Hundreds of transport workers around the country are protesting outside Aldi stores, saying they are under "deadly pressure" and the international supermarket chain must improve its safety standards.
Members of the Transport Workers Union held protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide on Thursday and plan to take further action unless the company agrees to the union-led charter of supply chain safety.
The Transport Workers Union says Aldi has not responded after being served a claim, alongside 39 other major retailers, manufacturers and agricultural companies, asking them to commit to safe supply chain principles.
The union says the transport industry needs tighter monitoring, as the road toll from truck crashes climbs to 108 this year, 28 of them truck drivers.
Aldi Australia strongly rebutted the union's comments, saying claims about poor driver safety were "wildly inaccurate".
"Road transport safety is, and has always been, central to our transport operations," Aldi Australia said in a statement on Thursday.
"We have tried on numerous occasions to have productive conversations with the TWU, all of which have been refused by them."
The union has proposed principles in its claim, including accountability for safe work in supply chains, transparency over contracts to protect workers, ensuring workers are able to speak about pay and safety, enhancing safety education, eliminating risk-taking incentives and equipping drivers for natural disasters.
TWU assistant national secretary Nick McIntosh says the German supermarket giant's refusal to lift safety standards in its supply chain is inexcusable.
"The deadly pressure on drivers and operators is building every day and workers will not accept silence from companies like Aldi who refuse to come to the table on safe supply chains," he said on Thursday.
The TWU says Aldi has not responded to a claim, served 14 weeks ago, nor has it met with the union.
The supermarket said it had built strong safety practices for its transport workers within the company, and said the union had failed to provide any evidence of safety risks.
"Aldi utterly refutes all allegations made by the TWU that our workplace practices are unsafe and are placing truck drivers at risk," the company said.
"The TWU continues to make unsubstantiated and wildly inaccurate claims about the driving conditions and practices of our team, and of our driver network.
"Given the seriousness of these claims, we have repeatedly sought details from the TWU so a thorough investigation can be conducted.
"To date, no details have been provided."
Aldi said it recognises it is a key player in the transport industry and has been proactive in ensuring driver safety is consistently maintained.
Aldi Australia mainly owns and operates its trucks and employs drivers directly through the business. Some suppliers ship to Aldi using their own transport services.
The company has a Safety and Corporate Responsibility Charter, outlining its expectations that employees, suppliers and contractors comply with relevant transport laws and the company's high safety and labour standards. They also audit all participants against the charter annually.
