Media Statement | 7 November 2017

Statement on Vickers discontinuation of application to terminate Coles 2011 Agreement

The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said while he was pleased Ms Vickers had discontinued her application to terminate the Coles 2011 enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) it was important to set the record straight on a number of key issues.

“We welcome Ms Vickers decision to discontinue her application to terminate the Coles 2011 agreement. This will now allow the SDA and Coles to finalise a new BOOT compliant agreement that will deliver strong wages and excellent conditions for Coles employees.”

“That said, there are several important points to be made.”

“Ms Vickers application was to terminate the Coles 2011 EBA. It was not an application to renegotiate a new EBA.”

“The SDA put the proposal to cancel the Coles 2011 EBA to hundreds of its Delegates across Australia in November 2016.”

“Cancellation was overwhelmingly rejected, and Delegates called on the SDA to defend the 2011 agreement and press Coles to negotiate a new BOOT complaint EBA.”

“Since June 2016, on behalf of its members the SDA had pressed that claim to renegotiate a new BOOT compliant EBA with Coles, and the SDA has been the principle negotiator of the new EBA since negotiations commenced earlier this year.”

“The SDA’s principle claims endorsed by Delegates were to; protect existing employees take home pay, improve penalty rates, protect as many over award EBA conditions as possible and provide future wage increases.”

“The proposed Coles EBA achieves these key objectives and has received excellent feedback from Delegates and members. We hope to put the agreement to members for a vote as soon as is practicable.”

“The SDA rejects figures contained in current reporting regarding the numbers of Coles employees allegedly receiving ‘under award’ payment, and maintains that the overwhelmingly majority of Coles employees were better off overall on the basis of aggregate take home pay and the superior benefits contained in their EBA as compared with the retail award.”

“The SDA looks forward to rolling out a new BOOT compliant agreement that will deliver strong wages and maintain excellent conditions for Coles employees as soon as possible.”

Media contact: Darren Rodrigo 0414783405

SDA WA - The Union for Workers in Retail. Fastfood. Warehousing