RAFFWU has been supporting, representing and fighting for Big W workers since we launched in late 2016.
Now Big W has agreed to negotiate a new “Enterprise Agreement”. The agreement locks in core conditions which apply to Big W workers. It includes things like wages, penalty rates, casual loadings, leave, job security, rostering and more.
We represent members at the bargaining table and help members campaign for better agreements. For example, we have secured the best agreement in retail in Sydney which pays workers much more than Big W workers, has 26 weeks paid parental leave, guarantees casual conversion and more. That agreement will apply to workers at their workplace because they ran a strong campaign and took action.
Download the endorsed member claims for Big W here. 220706 – Big W – Endorsed Member Claims – RAFFWU
We are pursuing these claims in negotiations with Big W.
Big W members can appoint RAFFWU as bargaining representative – ensuring their voice is heard through RAFFWU. To appoint RAFFWU as your bargaining representative send an email to bigw@raffwu.org.au with the following text and your name and store location:
I hereby appoint the Retail And Fast Food Workers Union Incorporated as my bargaining representative for the purposes of bargaining an Agreement with my employer and in any matter before the Fair Work Commission that relates to bargaining for the agreement.
That appointment will be given to Big W and they must then recognise RAFFWU as your bargaining representative. They must not take any action against you for being represented by RAFFWU. We will involve members directly in bargaining.
Big W saved tens of millions of dollars every year by not paying minimum Award penalty rates under their old rotten SDA deal. RAFFWU members exposed this dodgy behaviour in 2015 & 2016 at Coles.
Big W helps SDA recruit members and SDA helps Big W put in place deals which cut conditions. Workers have lost a fortune under the last deal but the new deal should have been so much better. We represented members in bargaining in 2018 & 2019. Our campaigns returned core conditions but the SDA didn’t want to ensure proper protections, and didn’t want workers to get backpay. They secretly agreed with Big W to DELETE the specific protection which stopped forced redundancies at Big W and had the effect of preventing widespread store closures. Big W used that secret deal to close many stores.
Only one union is fighting for workers at Big W. If you want to be with a fighting union, it’s time to join RAFFWU.
You can stop payroll deductions to SDA today by emailing employeeservices@bigw.com the following text:
I HEREBY RESCIND ANY AND ALL AUTHORITY FOR SDA MEMBERSHIP FEES TO BE DEDUCTED FROM MY PAY. THIS SERVES AS ADVICE UNDER S.324 (2) (B) OF THE FAIR WORK ACT.
And join RAFFWU. You can join quickly and easily online at www.raffwu.org.au/membership or download and return our application form.
