The SDA has secured Federal Court approval of a major settlement expected to bring ALDI’s total remediation liability to approximately $55.2 million, following years of legal action over unpaid work performed by employees before and after their rostered shifts.
In a judgment handed down today, 23 October 2026, the Federal Court approved the settlement covering approximately 32,300 current and former ALDI employees across Australia.
Unlike many class actions, workers will not have any legal fees or litigation funding commissions deducted from their settlement entitlements.
Under the Federal Court’s orders, ALDI is required to make settlement payments by 31 March 2027, or before the date the proceedings are dismissed, whichever is later.
SDA National Secretary Gerard Dwyer said:
“This is a significant victory for tens of thousands of ALDI workers who deserve to be paid for every minute they work.
“For too long, workers across the retail industry have been expected to undertake tasks before or after their rostered shifts without being properly compensated.
“The principle is simple: if you’re working, you should be getting paid. Employers cannot expect workers to give away their time for free.
“ALDI is one of the largest supermarket operators in Australia. Individual workers should not have to take on a multinational employer to recover their lawful entitlements.
“This outcome demonstrates the importance of strong unions in holding major employers accountable and ensuring workers receive their full legal entitlements.”
Kelly Boi, Class Action Lead Applicant and former ALDI store employee 2016 to 2023, said:
“I am proud that ALDI workers stood together and pursued this case. Work before and after shifts is now properly recognised and paid, making work at ALDI better. The proposed settlement also means I and thousands of other employees will receive a payment for pre and post shift work we performed in the past for no pay.
“I encourage every ALDI worker to join the SDA. This case proves that when workers are union members and act collectively, we have the strength to take on major employers and get an outcome.”
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627 066
Background – History of SDA proceedings against ALDI
- 2022: The SDA successfully pursued legal proceedings against ALDI in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, establishing that certain pre-shift duties performed by warehouse employees constituted work that must be paid.
- 2023: Following that decision, ALDI commenced a remediation program for affected warehouse and store employees, ultimately paying approximately $28.9 million.
- October 2023: The SDA identified significant gaps in ALDI’s voluntary remediation program, including thousands of former employees who had received no payment. The SDA commenced and funded a national class action and civil penalty proceedings.
- 23 October 2026: The Federal Court approved the settlement in Boi v Aldi Foods Pty Ltd [2026] FCA 1576, covering approximately 32,300 current and former employees and expected to bring ALDI’s total remediation liability to approximately $55.2 million.
Workers Covered
The group members are those who, in Australia, were employed by ALDI as:
- a store employee at any time between 27 October 2017 and 23 March 2023; or
- a warehouse employee at any time between 27 October 2017 and 30 October 2022.