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Workers Are Striking at Australia’s Supermarket Duopoly

jacobin.com Workers Are Striking at Australia’s Supermarket Duopoly

Australia’s largest supermarkets are posting billion-dollar profits while their employees are struggling to pay rent. Now, a national strike of supermarket workers is pushing back.

Workers Are Striking at Australia’s Supermarket Duopoly
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2 comments
  • fuck yes, I wish them the best. Working at these places has been an absolute nightmare especially since covid, dealing with abusive fuckheads for so little pay and almost no protection.

  • Here's the best summary I could make for the linked article

    Workers at Australia's two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are undertaking the first ever national strike on October 7th. The companies make billions in profits each year but pay workers very low wages, as low as 46% less for those under 20. Conditions are also poor, with unpredictable work hours and lack of job security. During the pandemic, workers faced abuse and threats from customers but stores remained open. The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union is leading the strike to demand higher pay, an end to junior rates, and safer working conditions. While the chains have agreements with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, the union is seen as too conservative and secretive. This strike will test the effectiveness of collective action and organizing led by RAFFWU versus backroom deals pursued by the SDA.

    The worker interviewed encourages all supermarket staff to join the union ahead of the planned industrial action.


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