Coles workers to receive an interim pay rise while negotiations for new Agreement continue.
As you may be aware, in September last year the SDA started the process of negotiating a new Coles Agreement before the current Agreement was due to expire on 31 May of this year.
The SDA undertook an extensive survey process with Coles SDA members in September in order to begin negotiations in October last year.
Unfortunately, through no fault of the SDA, the company consistently delayed negotiations and the first meeting between the SDA and Coles was not until 22 April this year.
Since that date the Union has met with Coles for negotiations on the following days:
- 14 May
- 15 May
- 28 May
- 2 June
- 27 June
- 18 July
- 24 July
- 25 July
- 29 July
- 30 July
From the commencement of negotiations, the SDA has argued for an interim pay rise for Coles workers in the event that negotiations went past the expiry date of the Agreement.
At each and every meeting the SDA has insisted that Coles workers should not be deprived of a mid-year wage increase as a result of the company’s delay to start negotiations.
We are glad to report that today the company has finally agreed to the SDA’s claim to pay an interim pay rise.
The company has agreed to a pay rise of 1.4% to apply to all team members.
This wage increase is back dated from 7 July 2014 and will be paid in the pay period commencing 17 August.
In the coming days, you will receive a wage sheet with more detailed information about the pay rise for each classification.
Although this is not the amount we sought, the SDA believes this will provide workers with important pay relief as negotiations continue for a final Agreement.
The interim pay rise will allow the SDA to maximise bargaining pressure on other items which include but are not limited to; preserving second in charge, point of sale coordinators and range in charge classifications, rostering provisions for weekends, improvements to junior rates of pay and decent wages increases going forward.
It will allow us to continue negotiations for all of these along with all the other items.
This interim pay rise does not limit future pay rises; the SDA wanted to prevent Coles workers from going without a wage increase for an extended period of time because of the company’s delay.
If you have any questions about Coles EBA negotiations or your interim pay rise, please call the SDA on 8139 1000.
