Source: Workers First Union
Woolworths has confirmed that the company will close its New Zealand Customer Care Centre and send around 130 jobs to Australia, Workers First said today.
The decision follows a consultation that began on 1 September, in which Woolworths said the move would net it an extra $4.1 million by the 2029 financial year. The affected workers are the same team locked out by Woolworths at Christmas after refusing worse terms and conditions.
Rudd Hughes, Workers First Deputy Secretary, said the decision was short-sighted and an insult to workers and customers alike.
“Woolworths has just banked $163 million in earnings from Kiwi shoppers, and its response is to put 130 New Zealanders out of work to save pocket change,” said Mr Hughes.
“It’s short-sighted, it’s greedy, and it’s a company turning its back on a country it has extracted mega-profits from.”
“Woolworths blew over $400 million on a rebrand and is clawing back about one percent of that from the people who actually keep its customers happy.”
“With unemployment at 5.6%, now is the time to keep Kiwi jobs in Aotearoa. It’s a staggeringly self-interested decision by Woolworths and New Zealanders should feel betrayed and let down.”
A New Zealand Customer Care worker, who asked not to be named, said the decision made no sense to the people who do the job.
“We’ve built up years of knowledge about the products, the brands and the stores. It’s not something you can replicate from another country. We’re often told by customers: thank goodness I’m talking to someone in New Zealand who understands my issue.”
“We’ve spent this year putting information into new systems, including training AI tools, and now we understand that’s what will be used to train the new Australian reps. It feels like they’ve taken advantage of our knowledge and extracted what they needed from us before casting us aside.”
“We haven’t been given a clear reason for this decision other than saving money. This is a successful, world-class operation that’s run in New Zealand for years. It’s not being shut down because we did a bad job.”
“It’s nonsensical heading into peak trading time, when customers are busy and want things sorted. People here relied on these jobs and thought they were secure.”
Workers First will now work to ensure Woolworths lives up to its redundancy obligations, pursues redeployment wherever possible and desirable, and does right by every worker affected.