Two weeks of industrial action and picket lines have cost Woolworth $50 million in sales due to empty shelves and the shortages have spread to Endeavour Group.

While Endeavour Group – which operates Dan Murphy’s and BWS bottle shops – demerged from Woolworths in 2021, some of its stores are still supplied through Woolworths distribution centres.

According to the Australian Financial Review there are shortages at some stores, while others may only be receiving deliveries intermittently.

“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,” an Endeavour Group spokeswoman said.

“The degree of impact on stock differs across our stores, with some locations experiencing minimal disruption.”

Negotiations between Woolworths and the United Workers Union have not been resolved after 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.

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.”

Workers took action after negotiations for a new workplace agreement failed. They 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.”

The workers are also protesting over their working conditions in the Woolworths’ Coaching and Productivity Framework.

According to news.com.au: “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.”

Woolworths said in a statement: “The UWU is seeking pay increases at these sites in excess of 25% over three years, materially
above inflation, at a time when Woolworths Group is actively working to keep food and groceries affordable for customers facing ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

“The UWU is also demanding there be ‘no enforceable performance standard or rate’ which would preclude Woolworths Group’s ability to manage productivity. The use of labour standards to manage productivity is common practice in supply chains globally and in Australia.”

Strike threatens Christmas drink deliveries for Endeavour Group