Coles workers face bleak Christmas as wave of automation sweeps industry

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The stand-off between Coles and the union comes as a wave of automation confronts the warehousing sector and the relatively well-paid, highly unionised blue-collar jobs it offered. By nickbonyhady

Matthew Wood has been trying to work out what to tell his children after he was locked out of his job as a Coles warehouse worker without pay for three months over summer because of an industrial dispute that will eventually claim his job.

Data collected by Australian Catholic University researcher Tom Barnes for the United Workers Union shows the prospects for warehouse workers who lose jobs to automation are not good. Coles warned workers it would have "no choice" but to lock them out if they went on strike in the lead-up to Christmas because it needed to set up alternative arrangements to make sure goods got to Christmas lunches on time, Mr Swindells said.

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nickbonyhady If we extrapolated on this decision - coles, qantas, telstra, the universities etc etc are dismissing their CUSTOMERS left right & centre. Do you have some ideal vision that some magic organisation will swoop in an employ people & restore your customer base? Pathetic auspol

nickbonyhady My super exists to support MY cohort. This constant obsession with profit, cost cutting & continued bonuses based on bad long-term business decisions is actually detrimental to the share price of these companies. We are supporting board members who THESE companies will OUTLIVE

nickbonyhady Globally corporations constantly act like its someone elses role to employ while they take the cream. Are you ALL so fuc$en stupid? why is My Superannuation australiansuper supporting companies who continue down this path. My super isnt to support an aging population cohort

nickbonyhady When will coles & other companies understand that continued automation will actually undermine profits & revenue. Its not a bubble - your workers ARE your customers. You have a shareholder responsibility to employ people. auspol business economics

nickbonyhady What a sh-t thank you to all these people who worked so hard during the pandemic.

nickbonyhady Double the tax fir every automated unit used like payroll tax! Increase company taxes too

nickbonyhady Automation in industry was obvious years ago but our stupid unions ignored it. Stop this rot and embrace it with common sense.

nickbonyhady You know what would solve this? Universal Basic Income.

nickbonyhady Remember when we were told technology would make our lives easier, provide jobs for everyone and would allow people to work less and enjoy life more? Turns out like most things it was all bullshit

nickbonyhady And as this may be largely driven by the thirst for profits, online shopping hasn’t helped. Hope those who lose their jobs this way aren’t contributing to their demise.

nickbonyhady And it continues relentlessly. What were well paid workers who contributed to the economy now become a drain on the welfare purse. Meanwhile, Coles and Woolworths shareholders reap the benefits. Eventually, it will get to where no one will be left to buy their products.

nickbonyhady Where's the govt with the financial & other support they've shown to the forestry & fossil fuel sectors. They're not in the business of picking winners so supporting workers against inevitable automation, should be right up their alley. 😊

nickbonyhady Robots and drones are the future. I think inclusion should start now with etiquette , maybe we should start calling drones and robots sir or ma'am as it seems the most inclusive measure at this point in time.

nickbonyhady The over paid management putting the boot into the workers Won’t be shopping at Coles

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