Workers at Coles and Woolworths fed up with low pay and unsafe conditions are walking off the job on Saturday in the first national supermarket strike in Australian history. Here's how it will impact
Coles and Woolworths workers will stop manning checkouts and stocking aisles across the country on Saturday. In the first national supermarket strike in Australian history, about a thousand workers were expected to strike for two hours from 10am, according to the Retail and Fast Food Workers' Union , though it's unclear which stores will be impacted.
secretary Josh Cullinan, who said they are beginning to find their voice in an industry that has historically treated them with contempt. "These workers are treated like garbage," he told AAP. "They pay them poverty wages, they don't treat them with any level of respect when crimes are committed in stores, and they don't have job security.
members account for fewer than 500 of Woolworths' 132,000 supermarket employees and less than 0.4 per cent of Coles' workers. While the impact on the supermarkets would be minimal this weekend, Mr Cullinan said workers were learning about their power and would be prepared to take more significant industrial action during the Christmas busy period if necessary.
has set up a fund to support Coles workers who lose pay for engaging in the limited strike action. Despite the strikes, Coles maintains the parties are collaboratively engaged in working out a new enterprise agreement. "Coles is committed to delivering an outcome that balances the needs of our team members, the sustainability of our business and ensures we can continue to deliver great value and experiences for our customers," a Coles spokesperson said.
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