Unite Union membership has more than doubled to nearly two thousand in Restaurant Brands stores after a union employment agreement was reached last week covering 3500 workers in Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut nationwide.
The surge in growth of membership reflects the workers support at the outcome of
negotiations for a new union collective agreement, said Unite National Secretary Matt McCarten.
"We have now reached between 50 per cent and 100 per cent membership density in most fast food stores, which is an extraordinary result considering four years ago membership in the sector was less than a paltry one per cent and the union is still growing."
Wage rates moved for Restaurant Brands workers by 75 cents and $2.25 per hour (6.75 per cent - 21.37 per cent), meaning 90 per cent of members wages increased by more than a $1 an hour.
Restaurant Brands says it now pays between 50 cents and $3.00 more an hour for their long-serving and experienced employees than their competitors.
However, Unite and McDonalds are currently in negotiations and Burger King and Wendys negotiations take place later in the year.
Youth rates have also been removed, which will have a significant effect as over half of the workforce in Restaurant Brands is under the age of 20 years.
