An employee of the supermarket giant launched action in July last year with the Fair Work Commission to terminate its 2011 retail agreement.

However, in a strange show of unity, both the company and three unions covered by the agreement all opposed its termination.

After being subject to a number of hearings since then, the most recent of which occurring in October 2017, the claimant has since dropped the application for dismissal as part of a settlement agreement with Coles.

It is understood the parties will now begin negotiating a new retail agreement covering the company’s thousands of workers nationwide.

Fast food chain Domino’s recently found itself facing a wage hike of around $50 million as its existing enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) – which paid workers below award rates – was terminated, with a new one due to be implemented by January 2018.

Coles settles dispute on employment agreement

Adam Zuchetti

Last Updated: 08 November 2017 Published: 08 November 2017