Factory X owns Dangerfield, Gorman and Princess Highway stores. Despite claiming to support workers rights to bargain and form unions, Factory X has steadfastly fought attempts by workers to negotiate for safety, wages and conditions in stores.
In 2023 RAFFWU ran a petition in Dangerfield and Princess Highway stores in Victoria to force the company to the bargaining table. Factory X refused to bargain and we took the case to the Fair Work Commission. Our petition showed a majority of workers wanted to bargain so Factory X ran two attacks.
Firstly, they claimed dozens of RAFFWU members working in stores had coerced and misled workers into signing the petition. This was without any basis whatsoever – their wild allegations were debunked in court with the help of 16 witnesses. Fourteen shop floor workers made statements and many were cross-examined by the company’s lawyers. Their evidence was resolute and the Fair Work Commission agreed – there was no pressure or intimidation and our petition was correct. The member-led professional and responsible collection of petitions meant the expensive lawyers for Factory X could not stop us on the issue of petitions.
However, they also argued that Gorman workers must be included too as the businesses are one and the same under the Factory X banner. The Commission found that although we conducted our campaign and petition fairly, our exclusion of Gorman store-based workers meant the group we chose was not fair. This was disappointing and members regrouped deciding to extend the campaign nationally for all of Factory X.
Of course, faced with having to implement safer workplaces, living wages and better conditions, Factory X continues to refuse to bargain. Members are continuing to build their workplace campaigns. The decision of the Fair Work Commission can be read below:
[2024] FWC 975 RAFFWU v Factory X (DF & PH in Victoria – MSD)