MEDIA RELEASE 15/12/2023:
RAFFWU CALLS FOR A CONSUMER BOYCOTT OF COLES AND WOOLWORTHS THIS CHRISTMAS
The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) has launched an open letter calling for a consumer boycott of Coles and Woolworths, from December 18 through the week of Christmas.
During an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, these supermarket giants have increased their profits AND their profit margins. Coles posted a record annual profit of $1.1 billion dollars in 2023, and Woolworths posted an annual profit of $1.62 billion.
“Coles and Woolies make up nearly 60% of the grocery sector,” says RAFFWU President, Dani Barley. “They exert considerable power over farmers and grocery manufacturers, not to mention the wider community, in setting prices that drive up their profit margins.”
As pay packets shrink and profit-led inflation spirals, workers across the country are going without. More and more people are relying on food banks for essential goods. Coles and Woolworths have responded to growing poverty not by lowering their prices but with increased surveillance at supermarket checkouts and bag searches of their own workers.
RAFFWU members at Coles and Woolies are striking again this Christmas, following their historic, national strike action in October. Workers are striking for a living wage of $29/hour, the abolition of junior rates, job security and safer workplaces.
“Community support is essential at a time when workers are on strike, and when these corporate giants are expecting to add to their record profits this Christmas,” Barley says. “Not only are these companies exploiting their workers, they are exploiting us all.”
“Along with signing our open letter and joining the consumer boycott, the public can show their support for striking essential workers by joining our community actions around the country next week.”
Contact:
Dani Barley, RAFFWU President – 0401 938 488 / president@raffwu.org.au
Quotes attributable to Dani Barley, President of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU)
“Coles and Woolies make up nearly 60% of the grocery sector. They exert considerable power over farmers and grocery manufacturers, not to mention the wider community, in setting prices that drive up their profit margins.”
“Community support is essential at a time when workers are on strike, and when these corporate giants are expecting to add to their record profits this Christmas. Not only are these companies exploiting their workers, they are exploiting us all.”
“Along with signing our open letter and joining the consumer boycott, the public can show their support for striking essential workers by joining our community actions around the country next week.”