"Woolworths sacks two workers and investigates dozens over alleged conduct during 17-day strike"

Two workers have been dismissed and Woolworths has told dozens of warehouse employees it is investigating their alleged conduct during a 17-day strike that cost it more than $100m in sales.

In November about 1,500 warehouse staff across four of the company’s distribution centres in New South Wales and Victoria took industrial action over pay and workplace conditions.

A spokesperson for Primary Connect, the grocery giant’s supply chain arm, confirmed that a “number of investigations” were ongoing as a result of alleged “unlawful picketing”, adding that there would be no disciplinary action for those who lawfully took part in protected industrial action.

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The Primary Connect spokesperson also said two employees had been sacked for their alleged behaviour outside a site that was not on strike. Both workers declined to comment.

The Primary Connect spokesperson said that staff who received investigation letters would have an “opportunity to respond before any findings are made”.

In response to the letters, several workers told Guardian Australia they saw Woolworths’ internal investigations as “100%” retaliation against workers for a strike that cost the supermarket giant at least $140m in grocery sales and left shelves bare up and down the east coast.

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