The SDA today lodged applications with McDonalds and its franchisees across the country to give their 115,000 workers the right to bargain together for better wages and conditions.
This is the next step following the landmark decision of the Fair Work Commission to grant the SDA’s Supported Bargaining Authorisation Application on behalf of 5,000 McDonalds employees across 18 employers operating 53 restaurants in South Australia.
Despite being the biggest fast-food employer in the country, not one McDonalds workers has been covered by an Enterprise Agreement since the company unilaterally withdrew an in principle agreement in 2019.
As with the original case, these applications are designed give some of the youngest and lowest paid workers in the economy a say by bringing the largest and most profitable fast-food chain in the world back to the negotiating table.
The Supported Bargaining laws were introduced by the Albanese government to help low paid workers – with clearly identifiable common interests – access to bargaining.
Quotes from Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary the SDA:
“These applications are a logical next step, following the SDA’s success with the South Australian case.
“That ruling by the Fair Work Commission confirmed what was always obvious: that McDonalds’ stores, whether franchisees or corporate – share common interests and that workers should be able to bargain together.
“McDonalds should accept the umpire’s decision and get on with negotiating with all its employees, who are the largest cohort of low paid and overwhelmingly young workers in the country.
“All McDonalds’ stores – whether operated by McDonalds corporate or franchisees – use the same sesame buns, the same pickles and the same systems.
“It is clear that all McDonalds’ stores share common interests and their workers should be able to bargain for improved wages and conditions.
“In short, these young, low paid workers – many in their first jobs – should be able to say: ‘I’ll have bargaining with that’.”
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627066