After a strike lasting 17 days, more than 1800 workers at five sites have won cost-of-living pay increases and Woolworths warehouse workers have successfully blocked a work-speed measurement tool being used to automatically discipline workers.
Woolworths warehouse workers’ central demand during the strike was that workers should not be subject to punishment under Woolworths’ Coaching and Productivity Framework – an algorithm-based tool to measure the speed of workers and rate each job out of 100.
The new enterprise agreement won by workers breaks the link between measuring the speed of their work and automatic punishment if they fall behind – a system that effectively attempted to treat Woolworths warehouse workers like robots.
Workers were also fighting for a cost-of-living pay increase, and have won pay rises across the life of the three-year agreements above the current inflation rate.
The new agreements across four Woolworths distribution centres (1500 workers) feature:
- The enterprise agreement recognising the Framework cannot be used to automatically discipline workers.
- Pay rises in the first year of between 4% and 4.5%. Pay rises in subsequent years range between 3.15% and 4.5%.
- Improved redundancy entitlements.
- Sign-on bonuses of up to $1500, in either cash or gift cards.
- Wins that vary between sites including increased weekend penalty rates and payment of shift penalties to maintain ordinary earnings when people are on sick leave.
The new agreement at a cold-storage shed operated by Lineage, a logistics provider to Woolworths (300 workers), features:
- A pay rise in the first year averaging around 4.7% for permanents, then pay rises of 3% and above over the life of the agreement.
- Sign-on bonus of $1500.
- Site rates for casual workers, meaning they now get the union rate of pay, equating to increases of several dollars an hour.
- Better rights around disciplinary processes and freedom of association; additional wins including improved classification structures; improved allowances and increased overtime penalties.
Comments attributable to United Workers Union Logistics Director Dario Mujkic
“Workers were on strike for 17 days without pay to stand united against a punitive performance management system that Woolworths calls the Framework.
“We always said this dispute was about the unsafe and discriminatory Framework.
“It is pleasing workers have won an enterprise agreement that addresses what workers see as the mental and physical risks posed by the Framework, and prioritises the safety of workers.
“The agreement stops workers being treated like robots and stops them facing automatic discipline.
“This dispute is important because it was about the right of workers to have input into how AI algorithmic systems can be used to set the speed of work, and ensure a system that is transparent, fair and respects workers.
“Also importantly, our members stood together and won cost-of-living pay increases that help them keep up with inflation.
“I would like to thank everyone who visited workers on strike, cooked for workers and families, donated money and sent messages of support. With your support workers have ensured Woolworths must prioritise the safety of workers.
“We are a democratic, member-led union. Workers have voted to accept the offer from Woolworths. Our workers are now ensuring that Woolworths’ operations will return to full steam as Woolworths meets the Christmas rush.”