Union protesters target Woolworths

Union protesters target Woolworths

SYDNEY — The Woolworths Metro store in George Street was picketed by around 100 people on May 27 in response to the sacking of 30 workers by Metro Shopfitting, a company engaged by Woolworths to do its shopfitting and joinery work. The day after sacking the workers, Metro Shopfitting replaced them with casual workers employed by a body-hire agency on lower rates of pay. Security guards at the factory are preventing the sacked workers from entering. Protestors carried placards through the store during one of its peak shopping times. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union members organised a sausage sizzle in front of the main entrance and distributed leaflets to shoppers. Andrew Ferguson, CFMEU state secretary, said that if the workers are not reinstated the protests would escalate.

Photo by Tom Flanagan.

From GLW issue 363