The Industrial umpire will weigh in on the bitter pay dispute that has cost Woolworths tens of millions of dollars, as the retailer squares off against its retail workers.
The Fair Work Commission will hear Woolworth’s application to stop United Workers Union members from pocketing four key distribution centres.
This comes 16 days into the industrial action that has left thousands of supermarket and bottleshop shelves empty in Victoria, NSW, and the ACT, costing the supermarket giant millions.
Negotiations for better pay have been ongoing for seven months.
“The best way to get workers back to work and shelves restocked in time for Christmas is for Woolworths to concentrate on reaching an agreement at the bargaining table,” he added.
“Anything else is a distraction.”
In response to the union’s requested pay rise of 25% over three years, Woolworths argued that it would be “materially above inflation” at a time when the chain is actively working to keep groceries affordable for customers.
The United Workers Unions initially filed an application to the Fair Work Commission on 3 December.
Stock shortages include staple items like cereal, toilet paper, meat and dairy goods and the impacts of the strike have also extended customers of Woolworths supply chain, Primary Connect like Dan Murphy’s.
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