Date Time Collective bargaining by small business facilitated by class exemption From today, small businesses, franchisees and fuel retailers can use the ACCC’s class exemption for collective bargaining. This class exemption, which is the first made by the ACCC, will allow collective negotiation without first having to seek ACCC approval. The class exemption applies to businesses and independent contractors who form, or are members of, a bargaining group, and who each had turnover of less than $10 million in the financial year before the bargaining group was formed. This covers more than 98 per cent of Australian businesses. Under the arrangement, small businesses and farmers can bargain with their suppliers and processors, eligible franchisees will be able to collectively negotiate with a franchisor, and eligible fuel retailers will be able to collectively negotiate with a fuel wholesaler.