Thousands of Domino’s employees could find themselves moved onto Award conditions by the end of the month after the Fair Work Commission ruled on Monday to delay a worker ballot on a new enterprise agreement, following an application by the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU) requesting additional negotiations.

In making its decision, the FWC supported RAFFWU Secretary Josh Cullinan, who claimed that Domino’s had not negotiated in good faith with the union and instead sought to bring an enterprise agreement negotiated with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) to a ballot on Tuesday, before the current agreement expires on 24 January.

That vote will now be delayed until at least 16 January, and Domino’s will be required to “give genuine consideration to any proposals put forward by RAFFWU and provide reasons for its response to those proposals”, the FWC ruled.

Meetings, which will likely occur this week, are to be held between RAFFWU, Domino’s and the SDA to discuss disputes over pay rates and working hours – with a possibility that changes could be made.

The SDA has said it intends to participate in the negotiations and has defended the current agreement.

“The new agreement delivers part time workers a minimum of up to 15 guaranteed hours per week, compared with just three hours per week as contained in the award,” said SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer.

Read more in this week’s magazine, out tomorrow.

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