Workers strike costs Woolworths $140 million

The 17-day industrial action between Woolworths and the United Workers' Union is finally over.

The action shut down Woolworths' Melbourne South Distribution Centre - on Monday, the retailer said it cost $140 million.

On Friday, the Fair Work Commission deemed the UWU's picketing of the Centre was illegal.

The deal covers 1,500 workers and covers a 4 to 4.5 per cent pay rise upfront and subsequent rises between 3.15 and 4.5 per cent.

It says there's a sign-on bonus of $1,500 - Woolworths says the average pay rise is 11 per cent over three years over the four Distribution Centres.

The union also objected to Woolworths tracking workers' productivity and the company agreed not to performance manage workers if they perform to the best of their abilities.

[iavdortmunder]

Typical Murdoch press, Sky skews Australia only cares about cost to the greedy supermarket and not the brave workers who had to go without pay to force woolies to treat them with basic dignity. HUGE win for the battlers!!

[andrew]

Woke worths will just pass on the loss to the public, by ramping up prices on goods.

[kurtriediger]

Hahaha GOOD, Makes up for how they are ripping off the Australian public

[stephenpietroboni]

A drop in the ocean to them. It's common knowledge that they make at least 1 billion in profit each QUARTER.

To put that in perspective, 140 million is 14% of 1 billion.

[yourlocaldolphin]

Boo hoo, $140 million is loose change when it comes to Woolworths

[vsboy]

They saved enormous amounts of money by not paying rostered employees for shifts anyway during the strike. The filling teams in store now are still on minimum wage working overdrive for Woolworths for not benefit to themselves is the bigger issue.

[robinwood]

Who gives a shit when they are ripping people off, all the supermarkets together bring in billions of profit

[Theaussiemixer]

Woolworths have already started raising the price of groceries, I was just in there, the frosty fruits icypoles have gone up to $9, connoisseur ice creams have gone up to $12 for a 4 pack! An ordinary block of chocolate Cadbury is $7.50! Price gouging for their old profit margins! You watch by January most things will go up a minimum of at least a dollar an item! Scumworths can keep their crap I'm going to Aldi

[tonyperkins]

I shop at draeks less woke and cheaper

[Tonystarkes]

Good that will teach them to price gauge the public just a pity it only cost them 140 million dollars and not 4 billion

[Psittacine-ppyd]

Great news for Wokeworths the company that doesn't like it's Australian customers remember the Voice Australia day ban .

[leeevans]

Oh great, now our groceries are going up further to pay for their greed

[bensoncheung]

Woolies can very well afford the $140 million. Consumers will be the biggest lower. This $140 million will be very quickly recouped by woolies as they will now increase grocery prices and conveniently blamed it on the cost of living.

[BruceShailer]

Have been boycotting Woolworths for years. FAFO

[ZamboniZone]

I thought Woolworth went out of business in the 90s?

[ianlister]

...coles be rubbing their greedy paws together...

[Sir_Rantsalott]

Isn't that nice? That's how much The Government gave Nauru too! Good to know we have so many $140, 000, 000 lying around that we can waste them on fun stuff like this.

[wyatthurts]

Know who is rubbing their hands together? The bloke that invented hand sanitizer

[allan]

all to save a few thousand dollars in wages... thats very smart dont you think

[deanwassink]

Watch your daily bread go from $4.50 to $5.50 and etc etc