Hundreds of Coles and Woolworths workers to strike this weekend – here’s how it will affect your shop

Hundreds of workers will take part in a strike in supermarkets across the country this weekend in the fight for better working conditions.

The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) has endorsed the strike and confirmed that its 1,000 members will take part in a two-hour strike on Saturday.

In all states and territories except Tasmania, staff will go on strike at 10am.

It will be the first coordinated supermarket strike in Australian history, with workers from Coles and Woolworths taking part.

Spokespeople for both supermarket giants have said they support workers’ right to strike.

Members of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union will take part in a two-hour strike to fight for better working conditions (stock image of Woolworths worker)

RAFFWU federal secretary Josh Cullinan told Daily Mail Australia that workers only want safe work and a living wage.

“The strike is designed to influence Coles Supermarkets and Woolworths Supermarkets to make fair offers on the key issues that matter to our members. The historically protected industrial action is a response to employers’ refusal to bid for anything,” Cullinan said.

“The impact will see 1,000 workers across the country go on strike and come together to share experiences and express solidarity with supporters. Some stores will have to close departments and others will be staffed by managers.

“In some places it will only be one or two courageous workers who go on strike.”

Violence and abuse in the workplace are also at an all-time high according to the union boss, who said he wanted any breach of workplace safety to be treated as a crime.

Workplaces are doing nothing to stop this, he claimed.

Another goal of the strike is to secure temporary jobs so they can afford to shop in the same stores where they work.

RAAFW members will also stop crushing cardboard boxes, cleaning toilets, packing online orders, clearing loose supplies and nine other tasks on Friday.

Woolworths said only 300 of its 132,000 employees are expected to participate in the strike and it will have minimal impact on store operations.

However, the supermarket will only allow workers who have already appointed RAFFWU as a bargaining representative to strike.

The RAFFWU and Woolworths are already in initial negotiations to end the strike.

A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it has a long history of good faith negotiations and employees have the right to participate in industrial action.

“We have been in regular contact with RAFFWU negotiating representatives and an initial negotiating meeting has already taken place,” the spokesperson said.

“Only individuals who have appointed RAFFWU as their bargaining representative can participate in the proposed industrial action. As a result, we do not expect customers or our stores to be materially impacted.”

The RAWWFU claimed that Coles is telling workers they will not be paid for the strike, and that they may be fired – but a spokesperson for Coles denied the union’s claim and said they were working together on proposals for a new Supermarket Enterprise Agreement .

A Woolworths spokesperson has said the supermarket giant recognizes employees’ right to take part in industrial action

A spokesperson for Coles said it is working on proposals for a new Supermarket Enterprise Agreement.

“We are working with our team members and negotiating representatives on a proposal for a new supermarket enterprise agreement,” they said.

“Coles is committed to delivering an outcome that balances the needs of our team members and the sustainability of our business and ensures we continue to deliver great value and experiences to our customers.”

The supermarket also claimed that the strike would not affect their store operations as only 450 of their employees are registered with the RAFFWU.

A majority of Coles supermarkets have fewer than five members each.

Supermarket workers last saw an improvement in their working conditions in July, when Coles and Woolworths increased wages by 5.75 percent.

This increase was in line with the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the minimum wage.

Both supermarkets made a profit of more than $1 billion in the past financial year.

Woolworths profits rose by almost 20 percent, while Coles saw a 2.9 percent increase.