The SDA is pushing for over 5000 South Australian McDonald’s workers to be given say on their workplace entitlements.
In February 2025, our Supported Bargaining Authorisation application got underway at the Fair Work Commission, the first application in the fast food industry.
Through this application, we’re seeking to require McDonald’s franchisees to negotiate a new Enterprise Agreement with their workforce and the SDA.
This application has been made on behalf of over 5000 workers across 18 employers, which operate 53 McDonald’s restaurants in South Australia.
What are McDonald’s workers covered by?
Since 2020, McDonald’s workers have been paid under the Fast Food Award, which is the minimum standard that McDonald’s must pay.
As the largest and most profitable fast food chain in the country, it doesn’t make sense that McDonald’s workers only receive the legal minimum in their pay packet.
This isn’t the case at other major fast food chains.
McDonald’s is the only one that provides the minimum entitlements and doesn’t give workers a genuine say on their entitlements at work.
The only thing standing in the way of our better pay and conditions is McDonald’s itself.
McDonald’s is trying to fight our application and claiming that McDonald’s franchises don’t have “common interests”.
From the pickles and the sesame buns to their systems and wages, we know all McDonald’s stores follow the same model.
There’s no reason why McDonald’s workers shouldn’t be able to bargain together and have a say on their pay, their rosters, their hours and more.
What is a Supported Bargaining Application?
A Supported Bargaining Agreement is a special type of Enterprise Agreement that can cover workers across the same sector, who work at different employers and receive low pay and conditions.
This application has only been possible because of the Albanese Government, who strengthened supported bargaining laws to make bargaining easier for workers in low-paid industries.
What’s next?
The Fair Work Commission will now review our application, and we expect it will hand down its decision in the coming months.
We know McDonald’s workers want to have their voices heard on their pay and conditions.
No matter what the Fair Work Commission decides, we will continue to pursue every avenue possible to give workers a say.