WOOLWORTHS will sack 200 Victorian truck drivers and outsource the work to trucking firm Linfox.
The Transport Workers Union said the 200 drivers made redundant would face a bleak future.TWU Victorian secretary Wayne Mader said drivers would not be able to plan into the future without a secure job with a secure company.
Drivers affected by the cuts met at Woolworths' Mulgrave distribution centre on Wednesday to discuss a redundancy offer made by the company.
Woolworths spokesman Benedict Brook confirmed the proposal to move from company owned and operated road transport in Victoria to contracted services through Linfox.
"This brings our transport services in Victoria into line with all other areas of Australia,'' Mr Brook said.
"We will work with affected staff to redeploy them within the Woolworths business.
"Staff who are not redeployed will be offered a redundancy, we will work through these details with staff and the union.''
The transition will take place in April and May.
Mr Brook said Victoria was the only state in Australia that operated a Woolworths-owned and operated transport fleet.
"All other states operate a transport model that is managed by transport specialists including companies like Toll and Linfox,'' he said.
"This change will bring a consistent transport approach nationally and allow Woolworths to focus on the core business of retailing.
"Woolworths will explore all opportunities to minimise job losses. We will work with the 200 staff to redeploy them within the Woolworths business.''
"We will work through these details with staff and the union,'' he said.
"Linfox will also be invited to talk staff about opportunities that may be available in their business.''
