The Warehouse Group (NZX: WHS) is facing intense industrial action as hundreds of distribution centre staff in Auckland and Christchurch protest over the integration of automation technology.
The dispute escalated following allegations from the Workers First Union that AI-monitored bathroom breaks have led to staff defecating in work aisles.
- Industrial Stoppage: Over 300 staff members walked off the job on Thursday to protest job security and workplace monitoring.
- Union Allegations: Workers First Union claims AI-driven tracking of bathroom usage has created an environment where staff feel forced to relieve themselves in distribution aisles, an assertion the company denies.
- Corporate Response: The Warehouse Group explicitly rejects the claim, stating no such incidents have occurred and that its scanning technology monitors efficiency rather than bathroom visits.
The conflict centers on the deployment of stocktaking drones and “goods-to-person” robotics, which the company claims improve safety by reducing the need for manual work at height. Richard Parker, The Warehouse Group chief people officer, said that no permanent roles have been made redundant due to the new automation, noting that the firm currently has three additional temporary roles in the affected area, as reported by RNZ.
“We are shocked and appalled by the union’s claim that our team members are urinating and defecating on the floor at work. This has never happened,” Parker told RNZ. He clarified that the technology used is standard industry equipment for monitoring throughput, not AI-powered surveillance of personal facilities.
The union, however, maintains that the pressure on staff is systemic. “Having supervisors and managers follow people to the toilet and telling them off for a fundamental right is absolutely ludicrous,” union organiser Hayley Courtney told RNZ. She said that the union has been engaged in discussions regarding these practices for eight months.
| Metric | Company Position | Union Position |
|---|---|---|
| Automation Impact | No permanent job losses; increased capacity | Threat to long-term employment security |
| Monitoring Tech | Standard scanning for efficiency | Intrusive AI tracking of bathroom breaks |
| Sanitation Claims | Vehemently denied; “shocked and appalled” | Reported instances in distribution aisles |
With New Zealand unemployment at an 11-year high, veteran workers with 15 to 30 years of tenure expressed deep anxiety regarding their future relevance. According to RNZ, workers fear that ratifying new employment agreements without explicit protections against displacement by robotics would be akin to “signing their own death warrant.”
The National Business Review reported that the union initially faced claims from the retailer that it had agreed to retract the sanitation allegations. However, union deputy secretary Rudd Hughes said that no such agreement was reached. Hughes indicated the company has committed to investigating the broader issue of workers feeling pressured during bathroom breaks.
The Warehouse Group is facing industrial action from distribution workers in Auckland and Christchurch who are concerned about the impact of automation and workplace monitoring practices.
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