Tuesday 3 December 2024: Woolworths Group has filed an urgent application with the Fair Work Commission seeking orders preventing the United Workers Union (UWU) from blocking access to our Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre (MSRDC) as well as three other sites (2 in VIC and 1 in NSW).

The UWU commenced indefinite strike action at the four sites on 21 November, with the strike action now extending to 12 days.

This application to Fair Work alleges a breach of the Good Faith Bargaining requirements in the Fair Work Act.  The matter has not yet been listed for hearing.

The application comes after the UWU refused to give any assurance of safe passage for team members seeking to return to work at our Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre (MSRDC) yesterday and this morning.

A majority of the team at the site had indicated they wished to return to work to begin being paid, which will help increase supply of essential food and grocery products such as nappies, toilet paper and drinks to Woolworths’ Victorian stores.

The UWU chose to block the site entry points at MSRDC with cars and protestors, which created an unsafe environment for team members who had shown up to work.  The majority of our team members at this site are not members of the UWU.

We will again be attempting to operate MSRDC today, and we will follow the advice of the Victorian Police to ensure the safety of our team.

ENDS