Hundreds of transport workers will be staging major protests outside Aldi stores across the country today.
They’re demanding the supermarket giant meet with the Transport Workers Union and sign up to six principles to make their transport supply chain “safer, fairer and more sustainable”.
“After 14 weeks, the retail giant has failed to respond to a claim served by transport workers calling on Aldi and 39 other major retailers, manufacturers and agricultural companies to sign up to safe, fair supply chain principles,” the Transport Workers Union said.
“Several other supply chain clients have responded and met with the TWU to discuss the principles, but Aldi has remained silent.
“Unlike Coles and Woolworths, Aldi has previously refused to sign a charter with the TWU on supply chain accountability, and failed twice in the Federal Court to silence truck drivers speaking out on safety in Aldi’s supply chain.”
The workers will be protesting outside multiple stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
“When wealthy retailers like Aldi squeeze transport contracts to boost their profits, it puts pressure on transport operators and drivers to cut corners in safety to stay afloat,” TWU Assistant National Secretary Nick McIntosh said.
“These supply chain pressures mean transport is Australia’s deadliest industry, and transport operators are going bust.”
