Workers at supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths are staging their first national strike, as they prepare to walk off the job this weekend.
Hundreds of staff will stop work at stores across the country on Saturday as part of union action demanding better work conditions and higher pay.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Supermarket workers set to walk off the job on Saturday.
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Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) federal secretary Josh Cullinan says members also want more safety at work, with supermarket staff copping daily abuse and harassment from customers.
Coles and Woolworths say they expect there to be minimal impact for customers, while the union says the action will “cause disruption at some stores”.
Here’s what it means for your weekend shop.
When will workers go on strike?
Workers will walk off the job for two hours at 10am on Saturday.
How many workers are striking?
The union says about 1000 workers are expected to stop work nationwide.
“Right across the country, there’ll be workers walking out,” Cullinan said.
“In some stores that will be one or two courageous workers, but in other stores it will be half the store that walks out.”
A Woolworths spokesperson said the supermarket giant expected about 300 of its more than 130,000 workers to strike.
Meanwhile, Coles has about 450 staff members of its 120,000-strong workforce who are RAFFWU members.
What stores will be affected?
It is not clear which Coles and Woolworths supermarkets will be impacted by the strike.
Why are supermarket staff striking?
RAFFWU members are calling for better safety in the workplace, as well as a liveable wage and secure jobs.
In July, the supermarkets both passed on a 5.75 per cent wage increase to staff in line with the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase the national minimum wage.
However, the union says this is not good enough as workers navigate high cost of living expenses.
“They want an end to poverty rates and they want living wages,” Cullinan told 7NEWS.
“They want crimes in their workplace to be dealt with seriously.
“When there’s threats, intimidation, assaults in their workplace, they want it treated like a crime.
“They want the space shut down, the cops called and systems put in place to make their workplace safe.”
Union members are also calling for secure jobs, Cullinan said, with casual workers demanding ongoing jobs while part-time staff want secure hours.
Both supermarkets said they were negotiating with bargaining representatives.
Can I still do my grocery shop?
The supermarkets say they expect the strike will have minimal impact on customers and stores.
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