Up to 1500 employees across a number of Woolworths distribution centres in Victoria and NSW walked off the job indefinitely on November 21.
They are fighting for a pay increase, along with an end to a performance framework the United Workers Union said was pushing staff to sacrifice safety standards in pursuit of faster work.
Woolworths insisted all stores were still receiving regular stock deliveries, but some were getting their goods less frequently than previously scheduled.
No product limits were in place apart from eggs, which had been rationed for some time following bird flu outbreaks in NSW and Victoria.
Woolworths admits some stores in Victoria, NSW and ACT have been hit by supply issues. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
The union claimed the strike was already having a huge impact, with "gaping holes" on shelves normally containing household and frozen goods.
"We are seeing bare shelves across the eastern seaboard now, we warned that this would happen if five warehouses took strike action," national secretary Tim Kennedy said.
"Woolworths are squeezing shoppers at the register and workers on pay and conditions, while making ever-increasing profits … this is contributing to growing wealth inequality in Australia."
The union has demanded equal pay and conditions across all Woolworths' distribution centres, asking for workers to be paid $38 an hour in the first year of a new workplace deal.
Workers also say a framework that ranks each task they do out of 100 puts undue pressure on them and has a negative impact on wellbeing.
"Workers do not want to feel pressured to cut corners and work unsafely for fear of losing their job, Woolworths must prioritise the safety and well-being of workers above all else," Mr Kennedy said.
"Woolworths workers are striking for a cost-of-living wage increase and to be paid the same rate of pay for doing the same work under a national agreement."
We're passing the hat around for the warehouse workers on strike! These workers keep — United Workers Union (@UnitedWorkersOz) @Woolworths' supply chain running, stand with them in their fight against corporate greed!#ausunions #WooliesStrike https://t.co/EUthzvxfrZNovember 22, 2024
The grocer conceded some Victorian, NSW and ACT stores had "limited stock flow" but added extensive contingency plans were minimising the impact on customers.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the company was working hard to sort out the pay dispute.
"We value our team and are deeply committed to reaching an agreement as quickly as possible so they can receive the benefit of their new pay rates before Christmas," she said.
"We have already put forward several offers with competitive pay that is above industry standards, above local market rates, above inflation, and well above the award."
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