December 6th 2024.
Woolworths has taken a major step towards restocking their empty shelves across the nation, as they have emerged victorious in their Fair Work Commission case against the United Workers Union. The commission's ruling was announced today, stating that the union had not been engaging in good faith negotiations with the supermarket giant. This was due to their recent picket, which had caused disruptions and blocked access to one of Woolworths' key distribution centers, ultimately being deemed as unlawful.
This ruling comes just three days after Woolworths confirmed that the ongoing supply chain strike has resulted in a whopping $50 million loss in food sales over the past two weeks. The strike, which has been going on for three weeks now, has caused significant setbacks for the company. The incident also caught the attention of many leaders, who have strongly condemned the firebombing attack on a synagogue, labeling it as an "act of hate."
During the proceedings, Woolworths' legal representative Marc Felman KC argued that the picket had severely hindered the bargaining process and was therefore unfair and should be stopped. In agreement with the supermarket giant, Deputy President Gerard Boyce ruled that the UWU's participation in the picketing was unlawful and not in good faith.
Although this is certainly a win for Woolworths, it does not necessarily mean that their shelves will be fully restocked anytime soon. While the company has replacement staff ready to work, they do not have enough to bring their distribution centers back to 100% capacity. This is because the strike, which involves around 1800 distribution workers across three states, is demanding a pay rise above inflation and the scrapping of the productivity framework. This framework requires workers to maintain 100% adherence to a speed-related metric known as pick rates.
The United Workers Union National Secretary Tim Kennedy has expressed that Woolworths could end the stand-off if they focus on negotiating a fair outcome. He emphasized that while they have the ability to open their warehouses, it would not be possible without the workers returning to their jobs. Kennedy firmly stated that the strike will continue regardless of the Fair Work Commission's decision.
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