Retail Workers Rally to Reinstate Sadie – Sacked by Aldi for Standing Up On Safety

Aldi sacked RAFFWU member and Aldi Keilor Downs Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Sadie Simmonds for undertaking her HSR duties.

RAFFWU members and supporters are rallying on Friday 11 July 2025 at 5pm to demand her reinstatement and for Aldi to take worker safety seriously.

Sadie was elected the stores HSR by workers in late 2024 and on 4 April 2025 she gave copies of surveys to Aldi management that she intended to undertake at the store. The surveys were about workplace stress and downloaded from the Victorian Trades Hall Council website promoting safe workplaces.

HSRs are able to undertake surveys as part of their HSR duties and are protected by the OHS Act. It is unlawful to take adverse action against any HSR for undertaking their duties.

In May, Sadie undertook the surveys and the results were alarming. 79% of workers suffered from fatigue, 72% from headaches and over 80% experienced conflict at work with 40% reporting severe exposure to customer violence and aggression.

In response, Aldi management demanded Sadie not share the results and then forced Sadie to attend meetings on a Saturday and Sunday, claiming the surveys were a breach of policy. They sacked her for serious misconduct, without notice, on Sunday 15 June 2025.

RAFFWU has filed legal proceedings demanding Sadie be reinstated and Aldi be held accountable for its outrageous actions. Now we also rally on the streets. The action commences at Victorian Trades Hall Council at 5pm and will march to Aldi Swanston Street at 5:30pm. Speakers will include sacked worker Sadie Simmonds, Aldi workers and union leaders.

Quotes attributable to Sadie Simmonds, HSR Sacked by Aldi :

Our safety at work is more important than anything else.

When I was attacked, assaulted and threatened with murder at my checkout for undertaking a bag check, Aldi didn’t shut the store. Aldi didn’t ensure the offender was prosecuted.

 Aldi still requires unsafe bag checks every day.

 As HSR I was asking hard questions about unsafe practices like bag checks and workplace stress.

The OHS surveys from Trades Hall were about workplace stress, given to management a month before I did them.

I was sacked for standing up for workers. For demanding a safe workplace. For demanding Aldi take workplace assaults, workplace stress and workplace safety seriously.

Quotes attributable to Josh Cullinan, Secretary at RAFFWU:

RAFFWU is 100% behind our member Sadie.

We often hear how hard it is working in retail. How offenders attack workers every day.

Sadie was attacked, threatened with murder and Aldi didn’t lift a finger. Did not care. Kept the same unsafe practices because profit is their God.

So Sadie stepped up. She decided enough is enough. She was elected and trained as HSR for her co-workers.

Her actions and surveys as HSR showed the workplace was unsafe. She threatened their status quo of profit over people.

Aldi’s rotten sacking on a Sunday afternoon is unlawful and outrageous. We have commenced action against Aldi and now call on anyone who knows a retail worker to get behind this important action.

Every worker is worth more than all their profits.

 All enquiries to Josh Cullinan on 0416 241 763.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/713599124929157

TikTok video of Sadie: https://www.tiktok.com/@raffwunion/video/7523094336192531719