Woolworths has described a picket line outside one of its key distribution centres in Melbourne as a “metaphorical gun” pointed at its head, as the supermarket giant seeks to restart warehouse operations amid an industrial dispute.
Worker strikes at five distribution centres – including the picketed regional distribution centre in Melbourne’s south – have disrupted grocery supplies at some Woolworths stores leading to bare shelves and reduced sales in the pre-Christmas trading period.
Woolworths representatives argued at the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on Friday that the picket line should be cleared because it was allegedly used to pressure the company during negotiations over pay and conditions for warehouse workers.
The supermarket’s legal representative, Marc Felman KC, said the picket undermined the bargaining process.
“It’s obstructive, it’s either actually preventing vehicles and people from coming on to the site or having the effect of vehicles and people not coming on to the site,” Felman said. “There’s a picket. It’s capricious or unfair. It should be stopped.”
Felman described the picket as a “metaphorical gun” pointed at Woolworths, designed to pressure the supermarket during negotiations.
More than 1,500 Woolworths warehouse workers have been on strike since 21 November seeking better pay and safety. They are being supported by the United Workers Union (UWU).
The union is seeking a pay increase to at least $38 an hour for staff and wants Woolworths to scrap a productivity framework it has described as “punitive”. Pay rates vary across warehouses operated by Woolworths’ supply chain arm, Primary Connect, as they have separate agreements.
Woolworths has previously said “a majority of the team” at the south Melbourne regional distribution centre had indicated they wished to return to work to be paid – but were prevented from doing so due to the picket.
Closing arguments, including the UWU outlining its position, were due later on Friday.
