The SDA has today welcomed the approval of the Coles Agreement by the Fair Work Commission, which will deliver better pay and working conditions for over 80,000 Coles workers across the country.
SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said the approval of the new Agreement was an excellent outcome for Coles workers and was consistent with their key priorities.
“This is an excellent outcome for Coles workers who will now have an Agreement which delivers pay rises for every worker, protects take home pay, improves penalty rates and secures hard won union conditions.”
“With wage growth at historic lows across Australia, we’re pleased this new agreement has been approved and will deliver a July increase to Coles workers and pay rises for all over the life of the Agreement.”
The decision by the Commission today comes after Coles workers overwhelmingly voted to accept the new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement in February. Some 90% voted yes to the proposed Agreement.
“Right from the beginning of this process, Coles workers were very clear about what they wanted from a new Agreement.”
“They did not want their take home pay cut, they wanted to keep the conditions that they had fought hard for over decades, and wanted pay rises for everyone. Now that the Commission has approved this Agreement, Coles workers across the country can look forward to better pay and hard won union conditions.”
“The decision today is fantastic news for Coles workers across the country, who will now have an Agreement which delivers on all fronts.”
“This is an Agreement which also preserves above Award leave conditions including superior parental leave, paid domestic violence leave, emergency services, defence and natural disaster leave.”
Mr Dwyer said that the new Coles agreement had a different wage structure that was designed to deliver strong wages outcomes for both existing and new Coles employees.
Existing Coles employees will have a ‘top up payment’ scheme to protect their take home pay and receive half of the yearly pay increase, as they will be on a higher ordinary time wage rates than new employees.
New Coles employees will receive the new Agreement’s wage rates, which are higher than those in the Award and they would receive the full pay percentage increase each year.
Mr Dwyer also said the new Agreement maintained many conditions contained in previous SDA-Coles agreements, which were hard won and highly valued by Coles workers.
“The Agreement also locks in important conditions such as voluntary work on public holidays, as well rostering provisions to accommodate family and study commitments and safe transport home.”
“Part-time employees will have the right to request an increase in their base contracted hours if their average hours worked across the year are higher than their base hours.
“Casual employees will have the right to request to convert to full-time or part-time if they have worked a pattern of hours over 12 months, subject to some conditions.”
“The new Agreement introduces two days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave.”
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