Woolworths strikes over pay and working conditions cause booze shortages at Dan Murphy’s

Alcohol retailer Dan Murphy’s is experiencing stock shortages as strikes at Woolworths distribution centres hits its 13th day. Endeavour Group, which operates Dan Murphy’s and BWS bottle shops, is a customer of the supply chain provider operated by Woolworths. An Endeavour Group spokesperson said the stock shortages are affecting a select number of stores in Victoria and southern NSW as a result of protected industrial action taking place in Victorian distribution centres. “We are actively working to replenish those products and are committed to ensuring our customers have access to our wide range of products and quality service during this busy time,” a spokesperson said. “The degree of impact on stock differs across our stores, with some locations experiencing minimal disruption. While deliveries continue, certain stores may experience a decrease in how often they receive new stock.” Woolworths in 2019 merged all of its hospitality and liquor-related businesses into a single company, Endeavour, in which it had an 85 per cent stake. The supermarket giant then gradually diluted its share in the company until selling its final stake in 2022. Despite no longer being a part of Woolworths’ operations, Endeavour still utilises a number of their distribution centres which are now being disrupted by industrial action. “We understand this is causing some inconvenience for our customers,” Endeavour Group said in a statement. “We appreciate their ongoing support and patience during this time.” Woolworths employees who are members of the United Workers Union are striking over pay and working conditions, including the company’s Coaching and Productivity Framework. The framework mandates a 100% achievement rate in picking items from shelves at speed, and outlines that anything less will be considered failure and result in disciplinary action or counselling. As part of the framework, employees undergo sweeping surveillance with restrictions on gap times of rest, meals, toilet breaks and delays. UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy said that “it is crucial that Woolworths’ ‘Framework’ is shut down once and for all.” “This management approach has the potential to increase risk in an already very dangerous industry pushing people to work faster for fear of losing their jobs.” The union is also negotiating for pay rises, with Mr Kennedy saying that “big corporations like Woolworths have accrued ever increasing profits” while workers struggle under wage stagnation and price rises that have left them worse off than they were a decade ago.