Woolworths has applied with the Fair Work Commission, seeking orders to stop its striking workers from blocking access to its Melbourne distribution centre.

Around 200 Woolworths workers are picketing a distribution centre in Melbourne's south-east which the supermarket giant is trying to reopen to ease a shortage of some items at its stores.

Supermarket shelves across Melbourne have been left bare and deprived of essentials, including nappies, toilet paper and drinks, as hundreds of picketing workers blocked Woolworths’ attempts to reopen a warehouse during an indefinite strike.

Woolworths shelves are rapidly starting to empty as the industrial dispute with the United Workers Union drags beyond its second week in parts of Victoria. Woolworths said the action has so far cost $50 million in sales.

The major supermarket chain tried to reopen the warehouse at Dandenong South this morning, bringing workers in on buses with the aid of police.

A strike outside one of Woolworths’ distribution centres is now in its 13th day. Union members fighting for better pay and conditions have resolved to remain steadfast.

A standoff between grocery giant Woolworths and 1,500 striking workers has intensified just three weeks shy of Christmas Day. The supermarket chain has since filed an urgent application to prevent union members from blocking its warehouses.

The ongoing supply chain strike has cost Woolworths a whopping $50 million in lost food sales over the past 12 days.