Workers at Coles and Woolworths have had enough.

These two corporate giants have recorded record profits during a cost-of-living crisis, while wages and conditions for their workers have gone backwards.

In October 2023, RAFFWU members at Coles and Woolworths went on strike. Their two-hour stop work action was the first nationally coordinated strike by supermarket workers in Australian history – a Superstrike!

Our members walked out in Canberra, Broken Hill, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. This unprecedented industrial action gained national media coverage.

RAFFWU members at Coles and Woolworths have voted to continue their industrial action in December 2023, until the bosses give workers what they deserve: job security, safe workplaces and a living wage.

Click on this link for more information about Superstrike actions in December – no RAFFWU member will lose pay for participating in industrial action because our Strike Fund will compensate them.

Only RAFFWU members at Coles and Woolworths are able to take protected industrial action during this campaign.

In order to take part in protected industrial action, you must join the Union. See below for how to join.

And see below for how you can support Coles and Woolworths workers through their #Superstrike.

Are you a Coles or Woolworths worker?

In order to take protected industrial action you must be a union member and you must appoint RAFFWU as your bargaining representative.

You can join RAFFWU by filling in a membership application. It takes 5 minutes.

When you have joined RAFFWU, you can then appoint the Union as your bargaining representative. This is necessary in order for you to take protected industrial action as a member of the Union, and for RAFFWU to be able to represent you in enterprise bargaining (EBA) negotiations.

You can appoint us as your bargaining representative by emailing either woolies@raffwu.org.au or coles@raffwu.org.au (whichever one is your workplace) with the following text:

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 your employer and they must then recognise RAFFWU as your bargaining representative in the workplace. They must not take any action against you for being represented by RAFFWU.

“If you’re working at Coles or Woolworths and you’re in the SDA, you need to switch immediately and appoint RAFFWU as your bargaining representative.”

Nelio Da Silva, supermarket worker and RAFFWU delegate.

Are you a RAFFWU supporter?

Woolworths and Coles workers are taking industrial action and you can help!

We know that workers win by organising together. But we also know that solidarity is crucial. You can show your support for striking Woolworths workers through the following actions:

Donate to the RAFFWU strike fund, which provides financial support to striking workers.

Email the CEO of Woolworths, Brad Banducci: bbanducci@woolworths.com.au and let them know that workers deserve a fair share. Copy us in: woolies@raffwu.org.au

Email the CEO of Coles, Leah Weckert: leah.weckert@coles.com.au and let them know that workers deserve a fair share. Copy us in: coles@raffwu.org.au

Receive RAFFWU updates and stay informed about worker actions and supporter events via the newsletter signup at the bottom of this page.

Spread the word among your friends, workmates and family! Let them know why a fair wage for essential workers is a thing worth fighting for.

Workers at supermarkets were lauded as essential worker heroes during Covid lockdowns. But while Coles and Woolworths post massive billion dollar annual profits during a cost of living crisis, their workers have missed out.

Workers demand a fair wage, workplace safety and job security. This means:

  • A base rate of $29/hour for all Woolworths and Coles workers;
  • Safer workplaces where assaults, threats and attacks are treated as crime scenes;
  • The abolition of junior rates, trainee rates and any other poverty wage rates at Woolworths; and
  • The right to a minimum shift length, minimum part-time contracts and conversion rights for casual Woolworths workers.

Read an interview with supermarket worker and RAFFWU delegate Nelio Da Silva about conditions in the workplace here.

We are stronger together, and your solidarity matters. Let’s make sure that essential workers get the wages and conditions they deserve.

Two young people standing side by side, each holding up a hand-made sign that says "SUPERSTRIKE". They are smiling.

“We’re a huge workforce and one of the lowest paid. We set the pay floor. If we get a wage rise it’s going to be passed on to you. We need your solidarity in this strike, and you need us to win.”

Nelio Da Silva, supermarket worker and RAFFWU member.

A group of rallying union supporters carrying colourful placards in support of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.
Two union members standing side by side at their workplace, wearing shirts that say "SUPERSTRIKE".
A group of striking workers with union flags rallying outside a supermarket.
A close-up shot of someone holding a copy of the local Broken Hill newspaper, with a front page story headlined "SUPERSTRIKE". A group of striking workers is visible in the background.
Two workers standing side by side, wearing shirts that say "SUPERSTRIKE", are speaking to news journalists who are holding microphones.
Three young people standing in the carpark of a shopping centre, each holding a handmade sign and wearing shirts that say "SUPERSTRIKE". From left to right the signs read: "Down, wages are down", "Abolish junior rates" and "I want to afford a home". The store signs of Coles and Liqorland are visible in the background.
A group of striking workers walking off the job. They are wearing shirts that read "SUPERSTRIKE" and holding union flags.
Two workers standing outside the entrance to a shopping centre, each holding a large union flag.
A small group of union supporters outside a shopping centre, holding the flag of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.
A line of seven striking workers outside a supermarket, holding the flag of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union.
A union supporter with their back to the camera is wearing a black t-shirt that says, "I'm backing worker action against poverty wages, unsafe workplaces, insecure jobs, unfair rostering and workplace exploitation".
A large group of striking workers and their supporters outside a shopping centre, holding the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union flag, the Eureka flag and signs saying "SUPERSTRIKE".
A group of striking workers, wearing shirts that say "SUPERSTRIKE", standing together outside a Coles store. They have their fists raised in a gesture of solidarity.
A group of striking workers outside a shopping centre, holding the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union flag. Some workers have their fists raised in a gesture of solidarity.
A small group of striking Coles workers standing and sitting at a cafe table just outside a Coles store. The Coles logo is visible in the background. The workers are wearing shirts that say "SUPERSTRIKE".