The Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union (RAFFWU) has launched legal action on behalf of workers at Berkelouw Books and Harry Hartog book sellers, over managements’ response to them taking industrial action for better pay and conditions last December.
More than 100 bookshop workers went on strike over December 20–24 after management refused to guarantee workers basic job security and fair treatment. This followed a two–day strike, over December 13–14, as well as bans on re-stocking shelves and meeting with managers.
Workers were stuck on a “zombie” agreement, made with cafe workers in 2012, that casualises part-time work and does not include penalty rates on weekends, nights or public holidays.
RAFFWU said on February 20 that “no bookshop worker ever voted on” this deal. Management responded to the industrial action by giving shifts to inexperienced workers, who were paid bonuses to break the strike.
“Rather than meet and negotiate a fair deal before Christmas, the employers attached a plan to strip striking workers of shifts,” RAFFWU said.
Josh Cullinan, RAFFWU Director of Strategic Litigation, said: “We allege the employers stripped workers of shifts because they were implementing bans, on strike. Members were shocked to see their shifts stripped from them and handed to strike breakers … We will not let these employers weaponise job insecurity against workers on poverty wages.”
Anita Donovan, who works at Berkelouw Books Leichhardt, said that after the pre-Christmas strike “both of my regular shifts for the following week had been cut”.
“There was no notice; my shifts were simply handed to people who weren’t taking action. I love what I do. Taking action for fair wages doesn’t change that, but taking part in a lawful campaign has made me a target.”
Cullinan said the court would “hold the employers to account and defend the right of our members to engage in protected industrial action”.