In an Australian first for the retail and pharmacy industries, the SDA – South Australia’s largest union – has won a case at the Fair Work Commission to force Chemist Warehouse across South Australia to negotiate an enterprise agreement that lifts wages and conditions.
Chemist Warehouse is the dominant player in the pharmacy sector, yet its workers remain on Award minimums with insecure, highly casualised work.
This decision removes barriers created by the franchised corporate structure and ensures workers can bargain together for one fair deal across SA.
The pharmacy sector is largely without enterprise bargaining, and the SDA is committed to fixing that.
This application was brought under Federal Labor’s new IR laws and come after a majority of workers across 13 stores in South Australia clearly expressed that they want to bargain for a new Agreement.
Who’s covered
The authorisation covers approximately 300 workers in Chemist Warehouse stores in SA, pharmacy assistants and pharmacists.
The order directly names billionaire owners and principals within the network, including Marcello Verrocchi and entities connected with the Gance family, among the employers required to bargain.
Quotes attributable to SDA Secretary Josh Peak:
“This is a watershed win for Chemist Warehouse workers in South Australia. The Commission has ordered the network to the bargaining table; now the billionaires behind the brand must show respect to the people who help make their massive profits.”
“For too long Chemist Warehouse has relied on a fragmented franchise model that has made it near impossible for workers to bargain together. Those days are over. One network, one deal.”
“Pharmacy workers will finally have a collective voice to win better pay, predictable rosters, and stronger rights.”
“This is first multi-employer bargaining order ever won in the retail sector.”
Media Contact: Nick Palmer – 0493 172 832.