<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334257</docID> <postdate>2024-11-29 09:26:16</postdate> <headline>‘Bare’ supermarket shelves as strike enters second week</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-334258" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20220112001612705896-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>A strike by supermarket warehouse workers is having an impact on stock levels, the union says (file) (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Alex Mitchell</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Supermarket shelves are beginning to run bare, according to a union whose warehouse workers are entering the second week of strike action.</strong></p> <p>Up to 1500 employees across a number of Woolworths distribution centres in Victoria and NSW walked off the job indefinitely on November 21.</p> <p>They are fighting for a pay increase, along with an end to a performance framework that the United Workers Union said is pushing staff to sacrifice safety standards in pursuit of faster work.</p> <p>The union said the strike was already having a huge impact, with "gaping holes" on shelves normally containing household and frozen goods.</p> <p>"We are seeing bare shelves across the eastern seaboard now, we warned that this would happen if five warehouses took strike action," national secretary Tim Kennedy said.</p> <p>"Woolworths are squeezing shoppers at the register and workers on pay and conditions, while making ever increasing profits… this is contributing to growing wealth inequality in Australia."</p> <p>The union had demanded equal pay and conditions across all Woolworths' distribution centres, asking for all workers to be paid $38 an hour in the first year of a new workplace deal.</p> <p>Workers also say a framework that ranks each task they do out of 100 puts undue pressure on them and has a negative impact on wellbeing.</p> <p>"Workers do not want to feel pressured to cut corners and work unsafely for fear of losing their job, Woolworths must prioritise the safety and well-being of workers above all else," Mr Kennedy said.</p> <p>"Woolworths workers are striking for a cost-of-living wage increase and to be paid the same rate of pay for doing the same work under a national agreement."</p> <p>Distributor Primary Connect said it had already put forward pay offers above local market rates, inflation and the award.</p> <p>Woolworths has been contacted for comment.</p> <p>When the strike started the grocer said it did not expect immediate impact to its shelves in NSW and Victoria, and that stores in other states would not be affected.</p> </body>