COLES CAMPAIGN TAKE ACTION To get involved in the Coles or Woolies EBA campaign SMS your organiser or email the office via contact@raffwu.org.au RAFFWU members campaigned for four years to get Coles to the bargaining table. It took a change in the law for Coles to finally agree to bargain in December 2022. In March 2023, RAFFWU put our modest log of claims to Coles, including claims for a living wage of $29/hour base rate, safer workplaces and secure jobs. While a $29 base rate is very low in other sectors, in retail it is a massive step up from the woeful $25 base rate currently paid — and young, disabled and trainee workers are paid even less, despite doing the same work as everyone else. This is why we seek $29 base rate for all workers — to end the poverty rates of pay at Supermarkets. RAFFWU’s bargaining team, including delegates from the shop floor, have held a series of meetings with Coles. As we go to print in November 2023, Coles has refused to offer anything. We always knew Coles was not going to hand over a share of its profits to workers without a fight — the trickle-down economy we were all supposed to benefit from was always a furphy. This is where industrial action comes in. In September 2023, members voted overwhelmingly to authorise industrial action and to take it. We then met and decided to implement initial bans at work. Coles responded with a hardnosed attack on workers, effectively starving out workers by refusing to pay them if they participated in any form of ban, even if that meant just wearing a RAFFWU t-shirt or sticker while carrying on with normal duties. This response by Coles shows us just how determined Coles is to not share any of profits with us. While Coles makes record profits exceeding $1 billion, its workers struggle to afford the very food they sell and are paid some of the lowest wages in Australia. To further protect all profits, workers are currently subjected to personal bag checks, where personal items normally kept private are subject to inspection when finishing a shift. This is in addition to the long-held practice of only offering 3 hour shifts so Coles doesn’t have to pay for a rest-break. Do you see a theme of profits before people? On 7 October 2023, RAFFWU members held historic strikes across the country at both Coles and Woolies, with 1,000 members involved. It was great to connect with Woolies members who face similar challenges, and for us to support each other in our struggle for a better deal. On 3 November 2023, members in Victoria went on strike and rallied outside the Coles AGM to demand action alongside a community rally against price gouging. Outside Victoria we implemented 7 minute stoppages across the day. These are difficult times — and the cost of living crisis looks to continue. Members at RAFFWU are stepping up with action to achieve a living wage, safer workplaces and secure jobs. What are other workers doing? We know from the books of history that the only way workers have ever gained the wages and conditions they deserve is by organising themselves and taking protected industrial action. Have a conversation with a non-member today and ask what they intend to do to help apply pressure. It’s all about power. Who has it? The boss? Or us as workers? We will only have power if we come together, in union, and are prepared to take collective action. To secure the things we need — for ourselves, for the people we work with — we should lead conversations on these issues and propose the solution of applying industrial pressure. The more of us that come together, in union, the more power we have to achieve better outcomes. It’s time to swing the pendulum back in favour of worker power! - Coles Delegate & Bargaining Team Member 7 BARGAINING
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