More than 275聽Officeworks聽distribution centre workers, members of the United Workers Union (UWU), stopped work for 24 hours on August 24 at three sites: North Rocks and Yennora in NSW and Laverton in Victoria.
Worried about their jobs being outsourced, and having inferior wages and conditions, they took the action which affected the replenishment of stock in聽Officeworks聽stores in three warehouses.
Officeworks聽is offering 鈥渟ub-inflation wage increases鈥 with cuts to overtime penalties and no protection for future job security, . At the same time, it is recording record 鈥減andemic profits鈥 with an increase in sales.
Officeworks聽distribution centre workers are considered 鈥渆ssential workers鈥 and have therefore continued to work, even while the company recorded three positive COVID-19 cases in distribution centres.
UWU director of logistics Matt Toner said on August 18 that Officeworks鈥 negligible pay offer was 鈥渦nacceptable鈥 when the company is refusing to ensure that its workers鈥 wages and conditions would not be undercut by permanent jobs being made casual.
鈥淭he managing director for Wesfarmers, the parent company of聽Officeworks, thinks it鈥檚 okay to increase his salary by 7.8% in one year. It鈥檚 time that workers, who are actually essential, get the big pay increases in line with the contributions they make.鈥
Toner said that 鈥渂usiness is booming for聽Officeworks鈥, pointing to an increase in profits of 41.5% between 2015 and 2019, to reach $167 million.
He said that the rise in company profits during the pandemic would not have been possible without the workers鈥 dedication to their jobs.
鈥淪ince the company shifted to focus on online sales, the warehouse and logistics workers have been working harder than ever.
鈥淲e are seeking a wage increase and job security assurances that reflect the commitment workers have shown to聽Officeworks聽and the contributions they have made over the years.鈥
The UWU is campaigning for a 12% pay rise over three years; for casual workers to become permanent after six months as well as those on labour hire; and protection for workers if Officeworks outsources its work to another logistics company, such as Toll or DHL.
So far, Officeworks has offered a 6% wage rise over three years; management rights to change shift changes; a reduction in penalty rates; no protection for outsourcing; and no solid commitment over casual conversion.
The company is pushing ahead with a vote on its offer. But UWU delegates have said they will be campaigning to vote the management offer down.
More industrial action will be considered in the coming weeks.