Behind the warehouse lockout in Australia: Coles and the corporate restructuring offensive
Australian supermarket and retail chain, the Coles Group, last week “indefinitely” extended the three-month lockout of workers at its Smeaton Grange warehouse in southwestern Sydney. This is part of an attempt by Coles, one of the country’s largest companies and employers, to satisfy the dictates of the global financial markets, which are demanding higher investment returns and share prices.
The most immediate objective of the extension of the lockout is to starve workers into accepting a sell-out deal, pushed by the United Workers Union (UWU), that would result in the closure of the facility and the destruction of most, if not all, of the 350 jobs there. In a critical stand, the Smeaton Grange workers voted on February 2 to reject the company-UWU agreement.
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FuelWatch: Top up before Perth petrol price rise 16 February
The average price of ULP is set to increase by over 33 cents per litre (cpl) to 150.2 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money.
FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 17 February 2021, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: 7-Eleven, Caltex/Ampol, Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking by up to 44 cpl to 159.9 cpl; Puma to 159.7 cpl; BP to 158.9 cpl; and Vibe to 149.7 cpl.
Perth’s weekly petrol price cycle results in prices, on average, being cheapest on Monday and Tuesday and at their most expensive on Wednesday and Thursday – that’s why FuelWatch recommends filling up today.
That’s all from the blog for tonight. Thanks for keeping us company.
A quick recap of the state of play in Australia after an eventful day:
Victoria will go into a five day snap lockdown from Saturday to Wednesday after an outbreak of cases stemming from the Holiday Inn quarantine hotel at Melbourne Airport.
International flights into Victoria have been paused starting Saturday.
The lockdown will mean Victorians are confined to their homes except for essential shopping, essential work or education, caregiving and exercise.
South Australia, West Australia, Queensland and the ACT have imposed border closures or restrictions for travellers from Victoria.