More than 1500 warehouse workers have voted to take indefinite strike action at distribution centres including the Melbourne Liquor centre, which supplies alcohol to Dan Murphy’s and BWS outlets.

The strike action is expected to start from late next week.

UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy told The Australian: “There will be a booze shortage. If the strike action goes ahead, [despite] contingencies that the company puts in place, there will still be shortages.

“It will still cause a major disruption and it will be on a scale that we actually haven’t seen before if it goes ahead at four sheds at once which is what the notice [of protected industrial action] will say.”

However, an Endeavour Group spokeswoman said the strike action would not affect Christmas drinks supplies.

“We would like to reassure our customers that we do not foresee any major impacts to stock availability in stores over the festive season,” she said.

“We are committed to ensuring our customers have access to the products they love over the busy festive period ahead.”

Workers are taking action after negotiations for a new workplace agreement failed.

The workers want everyone brought up to at least $38 per hour in the first year, with percentage wage increases in following years and a national agreement so that workers are paid the same pay for the same work.

“Workers all over Australia are struggling to survive in the face of more than a decade of wage stagnation compounded by ever rising prices. Wages are lower today than they were a decade ago,” Kennedy said.

“Woolworths workers want to be paid equally across the country. They want to be paid the same rate for doing the same work under a national agreement.

“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.

“Workers have voted in very large numbers to take indefinite strike action and will be deciding this week what their next steps will be in the lead up to Christmas if Woolworths does not come to the table with an improved offer.”