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The Warehouse workers protest automation and workplace monitoring in New Zealand

Several cities · pinned on Auckland, New Zealand · Nov 12, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Nov 12.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Workers at The Warehouse Group protested against increasing workplace automation, inventory drones, and intrusive monitoring.
What they want
Demonstrators demanded better job security, technological safeguards, retraining, and redeployment opportunities.
What changed
Nov 13: The Warehouse Group denied union allegations of bathroom monitoring and stated automation caused no permanent job losses.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Protection from automation and job losses
  • Retraining and redeployment opportunities
  • End to intrusive workplace monitoring

Organised by: Workers First Union

What authorities say

According to The Warehouse Group chief people officer Richard Parker, the company denied monitoring bathroom breaks or using AI-powered systems for surveillance, and stated that automation initiatives have not resulted in permanent job losses.123

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
300
several hundred distribution centre workers123

The full story

Hundreds of distribution centre employees from The Warehouse Group staged protests in Auckland and Christchurch against workplace automation, stocktaking drones, and electronic monitoring. Organised by the Workers First Union, participants voiced fears over potential job losses and employee privacy violations, raising concerns about intrusive supervision. Union organiser Hayley Courtney stated that staff faced strict monitoring regarding bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, The Warehouse Group chief people officer Richard Parker strongly denied the allegations regarding toilet surveillance and stated that automation initiatives have not resulted in permanent job redundancies.

Timeline

  1. The Warehouse Group rejected union claims of bathroom surveillance and job losses caused by drones.23

  2. Hundreds of distribution centre workers protested in Auckland and Christchurch against automation and monitoring.1

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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