Workers at a Coles distribution centre in the Melbourne suburb of Truganina have protested against abuse and intimidation in their workplace. Around 200 gathered outside the site – operated for Coles by Linfox – at lunchtime on Wednesday 16 October. They chanted, “If we don’t get no justice, you don’t get no peace!” and spoke of the noxious culture that exists inside the gate. 

“When your pick rate is down, they start bullying you … Most of the managers are engaging in bullying. Most of them do their sly one-on-one things like threatening people. We’ve had food and keys thrown in the bin at lunchtime”, explained National Union of Workers delegate Ken Price.

Michael Manoltis, speaking to Red Flag, described managers locking people out if they are a few seconds late. Of the toll the abuse takes, he said, “There are 40-year-old men crying from the emotional strain.”

This is the second time this group of workers has taken collective action against their treatment by Linfox. A few days earlier, on 14 October, a smaller number held a protest at the end of shift after a particular manager was brought back on site.

Linfox insists that any bullying claim is a private matter between individuals. There are “strict processes in place” to deal with such allegations, a representative said.

This is rubbish, and these workers know it. Despite more than 50 complaints being lodged with the company, only three people have been sacked or stood down. All three are workers who have spoken out about systematic intimidation from management, including Ken Price and Michael Manoltis, who were stood down the day after they spoke publicly about their treatment.