Woolworths staff around the country have walked out on the job today to call for the living wage and safe staffing.
Some staff from nearly 200 Woolworths stores walked off the job at midday for a two-hour strike after two weeks of negotiations with the supermarket giant stalled.
“The company has always claimed it’s one of the best payers in the market — that is no longer the case,” FIRST Union national secretary for retail and finance, Rudd Hughes, told 1News.
“We know Costco, we know Kmart pay better than they do.
“The company is coming to us and saying it’s not sustainable… What’s not sustainable is the wages that they pay these people.”
Organisers have stated if the supermarket giant can spend $400 million on retrofitting and rebranding more than 70 stores, they can pay for living wages and for more staffing.
“They are one half of a duopoly that dominates our domestic food market and has churned out more than $1 billion in dividends to Woolworths shareholders in the last five years. A lack of money is not the issue here — it’s a lack of will, and a lack of ambition,” Hughes said in a media release.
A Woolworths spokesperson told 1News fair pay has ways been a priority for the company, stating it’s bought a strong offer to the union.
The offer includes a wage rate increase for store staff over two years, which they agreed to in 2022.
Woolworths also gives a range of benefits such as improved sick leave, bereavement leave, and primary caregiver leave, the spokesperson said.
“We are one of the leaders in pay for our sector.”
However, Hughes said more needs to be brought to the table by the retailer.
“We’ve moved a lot in what our claims were but the company has barely moved,” he said.
“If we can’t get the living wage, we want a pathway to the living wage.”
He added that an increase in retail crime and abuse directed at staff members have union members concerned.
“They are not safe and we want them to be safe.”
In response to the claims, Woolworths said it’s invested $45 million towards improving the safety of the working environment “including team safety cameras in all stores, trolley locks, fog cannons and double-entry gates”.
“We’re also looking at bringing in duress alarms for those working in isolated areas.”
Woolworths continued: “In the current challenging economic environment, our customers need us to provide affordable food. We have to balance increasing costs in our business so we can provide more value for our customers.”
Stores were open during the protest, and Woolworths said it “will continue to engage with FIRST Union in good faith”.
“We thank our customers for their understanding.”
