The workers are members of the Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union (RAFFWU). They decided take industrial action after BRTD management refused an agreement that includes making $25 an hour the minimum rate of pay, workplace safety and sexual harassment protections and job security clauses.
RAFFWU secretary Josh Cullinan told an online forum discussing the campaign on July 14 that workers were preparing to escalate their action if management did not respond positively.
As this is exactly what followed, BRTD workers put new bans on work associated with web orders.
Management then announced it was locking out the workers.
RAFFWU pointed to the hypocrisy of an employer trading on “progressive ideals” to lock our workers “who just want secure, safe jobs”.
Support grows for workers at bookshop that loses staff like a sieve
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Bookshop workers take next step to win rights
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The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) has been supporting them in this quest since late last year.
The workers arranged to meet the bookshop owners to discuss the EBA in March. The owners initially agreed, but then their lawyers contacted RAFFWU saying they had done so only under duress. The owners then launched a legal action.
A post on RAFFWU’s social media, featuring a photo of workers holding the union’s flag, was shared by three of the bookshop’s workers.
Better Read Than Dead management sent “cease and desist” letters to RAFFWU, and to workers who shared the post, demanding it be taken down immediately.