Woolies warehouse workers on strike!

Workers at Woolworths distribution centres are on strike! For the past 2 weeks, workers have been picketing Woolies warehouses across the country to demand a pay increase and to stop a new performance management program, referred to by Woolworths as the “framework”, which is designed to monitor workers’ every move and increase the pace of work. In an already-dangerous industry where injuries are common, Woolworths is attempting to enforce 100% pick rates on workers. This is the same Woolworths that have seen their profits (and board member bonuses) soar over the past few years through price-gouging.    Emma spoke to two working-class legends about the strike: Ryan Stanton and Jerome Small.   

Ryan Stanton is an electrician and ETU member based in Melbourne. He worked in warehousing for 5 years where he led a victorious strike at Polar Fresh back in 2016. He’s a socialist and contributor to Red Flag. 

Jerome Small is an industrial organiser of Socialist Alternative. He worked in construction for around 17 years and has been a socialist and union activist since the 80s. He has been covering the Woolworths strike for Red Flag newspaper. 

Picket addresses at the end of this article:

Support striking Woolworths warehouse workers this week (and next) (19 Nov) https://redflag.org.au/article/support-striking-woolworths-warehouse-workers-this-week-and-next

Jerome's latest article on the strike: https://redflag.org.au/article/hope-on-the-picket-line    Check Red Flag website for more coverage of the current strike: https://redflag.org.au/   Read about the recent history of class struggle in the logistics industry: The 2015 Melbourne Liquor Distribution Centre strike: Inside a Melbourne warehouse strike: https://redflag.org.au/article/inside-melbourne-warehouse-strike   The 2016 Polar Fresh strike: 'Thirty bucks, no trucks!' Warehouse workers strike back against Coles https://redflag.org.au/node/5410   Coles still rattled by Polar Fresh strike, one year on https://redflag.org.au/node/5933