The only way that the workers can risk struggling for their wages and conditions is to go for the jugular and boycott their work and strike.
Since the 25 of February,1500 Woolworths employees in 4 depots, Victoria and NSW are on strike to demand better working conditions, and wages. While before the distribution workers are busy lifting and stacking boxes as early as in the morning, today they stand at their warehouse gates holding banners with the ‘Woolworths, we are not robots!’This demand relates to a ‘worker performance management program’, that Woolworths unveiled earlier this year called ‘The Framework’.
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For over two weeks,1500 Woolworths workers across 4 distribution centres in Victoria and NSW have been striking for better working conditions and pay. Rather than lifting and stacking boxes from the early hours of the morning, distribution workers can now be seen lining the entrances to their warehouses, holding placards that read “Woolworths, we are not robots! Respect us!”
This demand refers to a “worker performance management program” that Woolworths introduced earlier this year, which is also known as “The Framework.”
In a report by UWU, the Framework assumes that “each element of a warehouse person’s work can be scripted, classified and timed.”
This is followed by expectations that workers perform to 100 percent of the capacity ‘of each minute of each shift as measured.’ Should they neglect to do so they are then sent to a twelve week ‘coaching’ program known as “the Glidepath.”
The Framework presents the pathetic Amazon-like environment, which companies like Woolworths are willing to introduce to gain revenues. Woolworths workers launched a legal strike and know this all too well. Erskine Park distribution centre of Western Sydney is the largest industrial automated warehouse in the country and the workers are still under considerable pressure from their managers for higher productivity on the warehouse floor.
It was a comment from a Woolworths’ worker from the Erskine Park picket noting competition between Woolworths and Coles.
Aptly another striking striker asked “If our productivity is so bad how did you [Woolworths] make $1.7 billion dollar profit margin?”
This argument properly dismisses the idea of understanding the Framework as something that is ‘in the interest of everybody,’ as Woolworth’s management has attempted to sell to their employees and reveals what it is really all about: making money. According to the UWU, the Framework “reduces human labour to a mechanistic process … effectively seeking to control worker and task, second by second”.
What this appears to translate to in strategy terms is the complete erasure of any voluntary element of work. Instead of human ideas, a headset that constantly reads out to the worker what to pick and pack, that periodically informs them whether they are on track with the day’s performance targets. These measures bring to mind the words of Henry Ford: “when I seek a hand for a job, a head comes along with it.”
“They expect it to be robotic style warehouse”, David* described. “We are human. We are social animals. They certainly must not be waiting for all of us to work all day without us saying anything.
The psychological diminishing effects resulting from the Framework are clear-cut – exclusion and ostracism from peers, of course – but are the less overt effects behavioral. For instance, David mentioned that whenever he is with his family at home and has to ask for the repetition of something, he nearly blurt out, “and again!” – the command that workers give their headsets to repeat automated voice instructions.
The Framework has tremendously reduced the degree of workplace safety as workers are compelled to compromise on the safety of their practice so as to meet the production expectations. Woolworths claim in its Code of Conduct that “no task is so urgent that you cannot take the time to do it safely”, yet workers are constantly reminded of their need to meet 100% efficiency.
Ranging from the robotic voice they hear in their ears right through to the leader boards that show everyone’s efficiency percentage, the managers who observe them from their control room or behind them with a clipboard. Because the rates of production expected are so high and because employees risk being disciplined or even fired for not hitting these high levels, it is not astonishing to find that there are accidents and injuries.
A sad illustration of this was the death of Basel Brikha in June 2023 The Mutas Dataset that was collected from different parts of the world yielded the following results. Brikha died while on duty after being trapped under dozens of pallets that fell on him at Minchinbury distribution centre in NSW. Reminded of this occupational fatality, a worker at Erskine Park asked, “Was that worthwhile? What really should be asked is, “How many deaths is acceptable?”
The Woolworths strike is an incredible step in the right direction, because without confrontation, reckless corporations and CEOs are going to keep trading people’s health and safety for the sake of profit and getting as much labour from workers as they can. The worst cases of this profiteering can be seen at Amazon’s warehouses in the United States.
Andy Jassy, who succeeded Jeff Bezos as the CEO is making millions of dollars while his workers are getting severe injuries at more than double the rate of other facilities across America in which they are paid wages that qualify for food stamps.at Erskine Park questioned “Was that worthwhile? How many deaths are acceptable?”
The Woolworths strike is an incredible step in the right direction, because without resistance, greedy corporations and CEOs will continue to sacrifice health and safety measures while extracting as much labour from workers as possible. The Amazon warehouses in the US show the worst of this profiteering. CEO Andy Jassy, successor to Jeff Bezos, is raking in millions while his workers are subject to serious injuries at over double the rate of non-Amazon warehouses in America, while receiving wages so low that they are eligible for food stamps.
The bare shelves of virtually all the supermarkets and stores across Australia prove the striking workers’ strike is productive. The only way that workers can really make a stand when it comes to their wages and conditions is to do this where it has the biggest impact, in the pocket of the system as it were: by going on strike.
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Woolworths posted a loss of $50 million.
David, who said this was his first strike, explained: I believe this is for noble purpose. It’s not for us. It’s for future workers. It is for the children coming out of school or university, for students here working hard to pay for their fees, it is for them as well”.
“If this [Framework] doesn’t get stopped now, in future they might make it worse”.
“This is not the eighteen-hundreds, we are trying to save the time of everybody and to actually eliminate such problems as back pain.
Student activists and strikers at the Erskine Park picket line (Photo: Cherish Kuehlmann)
The University of Sydney’s Student Representative Council (SRC) has now contributed to the strike fund by the UWU and other student activists have been present in the picket line supporting the striking workers.The Electrical Trades Union has contributed $ 50 000 to such a fund.For Woolies strike – to contribute to the strike fund, click on the link above or come to employ picket line at Erskine Park.ike, explained: “I think this is for a good cause. It’s not for us. It’s for future workers. For the kids coming out of school or university, students working here to pay their fees, it’s for them as well”.
“If this [Framework] doesn’t get stopped now, in future they might make it worse”.
“This is not the eighteen-hundreds, we are trying to make life easier for everyone, not to give them back pain.”
Student activists and strikers at the Erskine Park picket line (Photo: Cherish Kuehlmann)
The University of Sydney’s Student Representative Council (SRC) has officially donated to the strike fund organised by the UWU, and student activists have been on the picket line, standing in solidarity with striking workers.
The Electrical Trades Union has donated $50,000 to the fund.
To support the Woolies strike, donate to the strike fund here or come join the picket line at Erskine Park!
FAQs
1. What are the key demands of the workers in the strike?
Workers are advocating for fair wages, improved working conditions, and stronger job security. They also emphasize the need for respect and equitable treatment in the workplace.
2. Which industries or groups are primarily involved in the strike?
The strike includes workers from sectors like retail, distribution, manufacturing, and logistics, with notable participation from major organizations such as Woolworths’ distribution centers.
3. How does this strike impact the broader community?
The strike raises awareness about labor rights, challenges income inequality, and encourages collective action for systemic change, potentially influencing policies that benefit workers nationwide.