Coles is the only major supermarket in Australia that continues to employ discriminatory Covid vaccination mandates for workers. This is instead of employing Australians from all backgrounds who are ready, willing, and able to work.

Coles put thousands of staff, disproportionately from Australia’s most vulnerable communities, in the tragic position of having to choose between a private medical decision and their ability to work and make a living. Regardless of where you stand on Covid issues, that is the wrong reason to make a medical decision.

Young workers in their first job, mothers, and people who worked loyally for Coles for 25 years were fired and locked out by Coles. And based on their direct testimony, it appears to have been done with limited compassion.

Woolworths and Aldi dropped their mandates long ago, when it became clear that such extreme measures were never scientifically or medically supported. IGA never had a mandate, instead leaving it up to individual stores to determine the best course according to local conditions – the most logical approach in a country with strong democratic values like Australia.

Not only have these mandates had a huge financial impact on thousands of employees across Australia, but they have also had a devastating effect on the mental health and well-being of employees and their families. This is a personal story from an ex-Coles employee, one of many who have been ignored while Coles has publicly virtue-signalled about ‘safety’

I was an employee of Coles express, [location redacted] as a CSR. I was stood down in February 2022 due to ‘non complying’ to receive the Covid vaccination. I was terminated in September 2022. I have since been unemployed because of the mental health issues that I have now due to what I went through with Coles. Coles have no idea what they have done to me financially, emotionally, and mentally. I was always so proud to be a part of the Coles family, being an older Aboriginal woman I felt a part of something. Coles made me feel that I mattered and for them to do what they did to me and many others in my position, well there are just no words to describe the disappointment and betrayal.

The constant stress and pressure to comply with private-sector-driven mandates have led to many employees being coerced into undergoing a medical procedure they did not want, just so they can keep up with the ever-increasing costs of living.

What exactly is the basis for Coles’ continued vaccine discrimination? Clearly all other major private sector employers, except Telstra, recognise that current information and data cannot support such discriminatory policies. This is true across the globe, not just in Australia. In my opinion, Coles is an international embarrassment.

When contacted, Coles doubled down on its bizarre policy. Coles responded stating that ‘the health and safety of our team members and customers is Coles’ number one priority’. They went on to say that they are following health advice and had conducted a comprehensive risk assessment. Coles did not clarify exactly which health advice they were following, or share the details of their ‘comprehensive risk assessment’ with me. This practised vagueness conceals a few salient facts:

• Current health advice suggests that the protection from a double dose of Covid vaccination is at best equivalent to, and very likely inferior to natural immunity. 
• Coles’ view is not shared by the Australian government, similar businesses, nor the Australian public. 
• No one in particular is being helped by this policy. Abstract terms like ‘customers’ and ‘team members’ are used to obscure this fact. But there are no abstract people. At the same time real, identifiable people have been devastated by Coles’ decision. 

In the absence of scientific or medical data that shows specifically and conclusively that unvaccinated Coles employees represent a health and safety risk in the workplace, Coles should immediately rescind its mandate policy and end the discrimination against former and future employees. They should stop the discrimination.

Our campaign against Coles is a few days old and already has 1,500+ signatures. We’re also sending a personal story from someone devastated by the heartless Coles policies every day until the policies are rescinded and former employees are welcomed back (if they want to return).

We would love your support https://iwua.redunion.com.au/stop-the-discrimination.