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The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) is taking Woolworths to court, claiming its overnight workers suffered pay cuts when they were forced to switch to working regular hours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union alleges 1400 Woolworths overnight workers across 100 stores in Victoria and Tasmania were required to move to daytime or afternoon shifts without warning in 2021.
"Workers were hauled into meetings on the night of 21 April 2021 and told the overnight work was ceasing," RAFFWU secretary Josh Cullinan told 9news.com.au.
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"Over 1400 workers were told this. They were told to provide updated availability for working days or evenings.
"It was in person, in-store without the opportunity for any support people.
"It was distressing and upsetting to very many of the workers."
The union alleges the roster changes were made so Woolworths could avoid paying penalty rates and meal breaks to workers.
It claims the decision resulted in wage cuts of up to $30,000 a year for some full-time staff.
"When workers disputed the roster changes, and kept turning up to their shifts, they were sent home, threatened with no pay and told they must comply with Woolworths' direction," Cullinan said.
"We are seeking proper compensation for all affected workers, including the tens of thousands of dollars a year some workers have lost as a result of the changes."
Alongside the union, two RAFFWU members who were impacted by the decision have signed on as co-applicants in the submission over Woolworths' alleged failure to consult them over the major change, along with other breaches of their workplace rights.
A Woolworths spokesperson told 9news.com.au that, as the matter was before the court, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
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However, the spokesperson did confirm Woolworths made changes to the way it stocked stores in Victoria and Tasmania by "moving key shelf stocking period from overnight activity to an afternoon or evening shift".
"This brought our Victorian and Tasmanian stores in line with every other state and territory," they said.
"The move was designed to improve stock availability, particularly during evening trading hours, when a growing number of customers choose to shop.
"We knew that this was a change to their rosters and that's why there was an extensive consultation period commencing in April 2021 prior to the change, to ensure the transition to new rosters was as smooth as possible.
"This included transition payments for impacted team members."
