Country Road workers strike new pay deal
Melbourne warehouse workers of a major fashion retailer have ended their at times contentious two-week strike after agreeing to a new pay deal.
The United Workers Union said staff from Country Road Group's Truganina factory, most of whom are women, voted in favour of the new agreement on Monday morning.
They are set to return to work immediately.
The agreement includes a 13.3 per cent pay rise over four years, with back-pay to the expiry of the old deal in May, and will cement 20 more permanent positions for union members, the UWU said.
"This is an important win for these workers, and it has been achieved despite the broken enterprise bargaining laws," UWU National Secretary Tim Kennedy said in a statement.
The workers had been striking since November 11 including outside the brand's flagship Melbourne store and during the city's Fashion Week festivities.
Planned strike action in early November outside the warehouse was postponed after manure was laid outside, drawing claims from the union it had been orchestrated by the company as part of "intimidation tactics".
A Country Road Group spokesman insisted the fertiliser was added to its garden beds as part of "routine garden maintenance".
The Australian retailer, which also owns a stable of other fashion labels including Mimco, Trenery, Witchery and Politix, has been contacted by AAP for comment.
