COLES SHUNS WORKING MOTHERS!!!
We have been contacted by many Coles Retail Workers who have expressed there disbelief and anger that they cannot return to their work on a part time basis, when they try to return after a period of maternity leave, despite there being provision for this in their EBA.
Why are Coles so determined to cast working mothers aside in order to meet their SDR Targets. Despite the promise to these workers that they will be able to return to their jobs once they finish maternity leave.
We have received conformation from a maternal health nurse that a great many mothers that visit her are upset and confused as to why they can't return to their jobs, as they were promised by their Manager, and allowed for in their EBA.
Australians have rallied and won the right to have Mothers supported with the right to take Maternity Leave, the Paid Parental Leave scheme and legislation that return to work and the right to have your job to return to protected in EBA's.
WHY do Coles think that at such an important time in a Mothers life they want to drag working women back to the dark ages, and discriminate against them for choosing to have Children???
Below is a copy of the Maternity Leave Clause taken from the Fair Work Website
1.12 Part-time work
The following provisions apply to full-time and part-time team members only.
1.12.1 Entitlement
(a) A team member may work part-time in one or more periods at any time from
the date of birth of the child until its second birthday or, in relation to adoption,
from the date of placement of the child until the second anniversary of the
placement.
(b) A female team member may work part-time in one or more periods while she is
pregnant where part-time employment is, because of the pregnancy, necessary
or desirable.
Notwithstanding the above, a team member who is a parent of a child may request in
writing for a change in working arrangements if the child is under school age. Such change
is subject to the terms of clause 5.3.7 of this Agreement.
1.12.8 Nature of part-time work
Where possible, a team member returning to work part-time under this provision shall
perform the work of his or her former position. Where this is not possible, the work shall
be work otherwise performed under this Agreement.
THANK YOU !! to all the friends who helped with the VOTE NO to Woolworths EBA leafleting in Parhran, St Kilda and Balaclava on Saturday. 
