‘Alarming’: David Jones workers brace for job losses as store closures loom

November 3, 2026 — 12:02pm

The union representing thousands of David Jones employees is alarmed by the department store chain’s financial troubles and stands ready to protect workers in the case of mass redundancies as the company prepares to close as many as half of its stores.

“The reports of David Jones’ predicament are alarming,” The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) National Secretary Gerard Dwyer, said.

Thousands of David Jones workers could lose their jobs amid speculation the retailer could be put into administration as early as this week if it cannot reach an agreement to close some of its 38 stores and receive rent concessions to help it survive.

The SDA said the 2024 David Jones Enterprise Agreement covered 4644 employees, which doesn’t include executives or warehouse staff.

David Jones’s 2025 financial report, which showed sales declined to $2 billion and losses increased to more than $95 million, listed 5652 employees in total.

Dwyer said the union’s priorities are to ensure that as many workers as possible are kept employed, and “protecting and prioritising all legal and financial entitlements for affected workers in the event of any redundancies”.

Last week, David Jones owner, private equity group Anchorage Capital, confirmed it was in “intense” discussions with landlords such as Westfield owner Scentre to decide the retailer’s long-term future by Christmas. Its survival bid is expected to include a significant number of store closures.

Suppliers have told this publication they are already restricting the financial terms of sales to David Jones due to lengthening payment terms.

Suppliers will become unsecured creditors and potentially lose significantly on any outstanding bills with the retailer if it goes into administration.

Distressed lender Hilco Capital says it has provided funding to the once iconic department store to see it through the Black Friday and December sales period, which traditionally provides most of its sales for the year.

“Hilco Capital has funded above the agreed facility to allow David Jones to increase stock holdings ahead of the busy Christmas trade and sales period,” a Hilco spokesperson said. “Hilco remains supportive of the business, and any inference otherwise is false.”

David Jones has been approached for comment.

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Colin Kruger is a senior business reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.

Jessica Yun is a business reporter covering retail and food for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.

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