Employees at The Warehouse, New Zealand's largest retailer, staged protests this week at distribution centers in Auckland and Christchurch. More than 300 workers participated, citing concerns over the use of AI-driven monitoring systems and potential job losses due to new technology.
Union organizer Hayley Courtney stated that the company introduced large robots for picking tasks and drones for inventory management, replacing some manual roles. Workers alleged that these systems monitor bathroom breaks, leading to extreme stress and incidents where employees were unable to reach facilities in time.
The Warehouse Group denied these allegations, expressing shock at the claims regarding workplace conditions. Chief People Officer Richard Parker clarified that the company uses standard efficiency scanning equipment common in global logistics, which does not track bathroom usage.
Parker also addressed concerns about automation, stating that drones have improved safety by eliminating the need for manual high-altitude operations. He noted that the company added three temporary positions in the inventory sector and remains committed to providing retraining and redeployment opportunities.
