A coach containing a group of people in hi-vis vests turned away from Woolworths’ distribution centre in Dandenong South after being blocked by protesters.
Striking Woolworths employees are continuing to protest outside the supermarket giant’s distribution centre in Melbourne’s outer south-east, despite a ruling by the industrial umpire yesterday barring striking workers from blocking access to the site.
Woolworths has said the industrial action has cost the company at least $50 million so far. Workers are striking for better pay and conditions, and in protest against the use of automation in the Dandenong centre that the union says treats people as though they are robots.The commission did not order the strike to end, finding there was nothing to stop unionised workers from rallying at the four centres – but the picketers were ordered to allow safe passage in and out of the sites.
The scene this week at Woolworths’ distribution centre in Dandenong South, where a strike has left shelves bare in stores all over Melbourne.The commission heard that about 30 staff, including Woolworths managers, had sought to work at the site before the company abandoned its plans to allow some non-union workers to return to work during the week.
Commission deputy president Gerard Boyce ruled the picket line across the driveway of the distribution centre had been conducted in a way that was capricious and unfair. During the hearing, Woolworths described the picket line as forcing it to negotiate with the striking workers’ union as though the company has a “gun to its head”.Woolworths said this week that the strike had cost $50 million in lost sales, and it expects further impacts on turnover until the strike is resolved.
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