At Food Lover’s Market, our people are our family, and their safety is always our first concern.
We acknowledge the statement issued by the Transport and Retail Allied Workers Union (TRAWU), but it is important to set the record straight. The strike action at our Lordsview branch has regrettably not been respected by the Union. Instead, there have been repeated incidents of:
- Harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against colleagues.
- Physical assaults and aggressive behaviour.
- Blocking access to and from the premises.
- Continuation of picketing after hours, in breach of agreed rules.
As a direct result, 30 of our colleagues were unable to return home last night. Some slept at nearby convenience stores and garages, while others relied on taxi drivers to arrange shelter.
The police have been on site throughout, acting to protect both our colleagues and members of the public. Their interventions followed repeated requests for strikers to remove blockades and allow safe passage – requests which were ignored.
We are seeking advice from our legal representatives, as the disregard for picketing rules and the escalating aggression place our colleagues at unacceptable risk.
We remain committed to engaging constructively with labour representatives and to ensuring that lawful industrial action is peaceful, respectful, and safe. However, we strongly condemn the strongarm tactics and aggression that have been used at Lordsview. These actions have no place in fair workplace relations.
