<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 100 staff at two major Australian book retailers will walk off the job tomorrow for a days-long strike over the busy Christmas period.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books employees represented by the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) will begin a five-day strike from tomorrow until Wednesday, December 24.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The strike will affect all Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books bookstores.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-live-updates-survivors-return-to-bondi-matilda-others-laid-to-rest-anger-grows-at-prime-minister-anthony-albanese/cbb696eb-bd84-4b02-96c5-6ddbee837ae9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Incredible scenes as hundreds paddle out at Bondi Beach</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9news.com.au understands the retailers will attempt to staff the stores during the strike with non-union staff and new hires.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know that the shareholders are trying to break the strike but there will be over 100 workers on strike," RAFFWU secretary Loukas Kakogiannis told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>RAFFWU members are bargaining for a new agreement that would boost wages and improve conditions.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/retail-workers-union-strike-booksellers-walk-off-the-job-before-christmas/a3a51c1a-c739-4350-809d-91a9a1fa8c82" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They have been negotiating with the Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books for months in a bid to replace the expired, 13-year-old deal they're currently on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under that agreement, many booksellers aren't paid penalty rates on evenings and Saturdays and are stuck on casualised part-time work with no casual loading.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-investigations-continue-into-terrorist-father-and-son-phillipines-trip/44fb98ca-1bb0-484d-b790-5b895d7a633a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Inside the Akrams' $22 a night Philippine hotel</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can't keep going under this old agreement when we're juggling multiple jobs just to survive and living with constant financial stress," RAFFWU delegate Ally Bodnaruk said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Passion for books doesn't pay the rent. We want to secure jobs, fair treatment and to be paid a living wage."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite six bargaining meetings over three months, a new agreement has not been reached.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>RAFFWU members have already instituted a ban on restocking shelves and receiving deliveries in response to the failed negotiations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books reacted by issuing workers with unilateral wage cuts of 37.77 per cent for participating in the bans, per the RAFFWU.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/major-police-operation-sydney-south-west/dc40cceb-111a-4dd3-aa67-44e4984e8658" target="_blank"><strong><span>Heavily armed police make several arrests on Sydney street</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These workers aren't asking for the world, they want job security, a living wage with penalty rates, and protections against unfair treatment," Kakogiannis said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These are basic rights that all workers deserve."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He called on Harry Hartog and Berkelouw Books to "stop being recalcitrant" and come to the table with a fair offer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Harry Hartog operates 15 stores across the ACT, NSW, Queensland and South Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Berkelouw Books operates out of fewer than 10 locations in NSW and Queensland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>