Aug 28, 2023 / by mamarina / In Allgemein / Leave a comment
The Coles Enterprise Agreement 2014 was a significant development in the history of the Australian retail industry. The agreement, which was signed in May 2014, set out the terms and conditions under which Coles employees across the country would be employed.
One of the key features of the agreement was the establishment of a higher minimum wage for Coles employees. Under the agreement, the minimum wage for full-time employees was set at $20.01 per hour, while part-time employees were entitled to a pro-rata rate. This was a significant increase on the previous minimum wage, which had been set at $18.91 per hour.
The Coles Enterprise Agreement 2014 also provided for a range of other benefits for Coles employees. These included increased penalty rates for working weekends, higher allowances for working in remote locations, and improved sick leave and maternity leave arrangements.
Another important aspect of the agreement was the provisions it contained relating to job security. Under the agreement, Coles committed to providing its employees with more stable employment arrangements, including fixed-term contracts and guaranteed minimum hours.
The Coles Enterprise Agreement 2014 was the product of lengthy negotiations between the company and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), the union representing Coles employees. The negotiations took place against the backdrop of a long-running debate in Australia about the wages and conditions of retail workers.
The agreement was controversial in some quarters, with critics arguing that it did not go far enough to address issues such as casualisation and insecure work in the retail sector. However, supporters of the agreement argued that it represented a significant step forward in improving the wages and conditions of Coles employees.
In summary, the Coles Enterprise Agreement 2014 was a significant development in the Australian retail industry, providing a range of benefits for Coles employees and setting a new minimum wage standard for the sector. While it was not without its critics, the agreement represented an important milestone in the ongoing evolution of employment relations in Australia.