ACCC proposes for office product retailers to continue collective bargaining

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has proposed to allow office product retailers to continue to collectively bargain with office products suppliers for another six years.

The collective bargain arrangement involving Office Choice, Office Brands, Office Products Depot and their current and future Australian members and franchisees has been operating since it was first authorised by the ACCC in 2007.

ACCC deputy chair Michael Schaper said this will assist these retailers to compete “with larger retailers and provide consumers with more competitive prices and greater choice”.

The ACCC will seek submissions in relation to this draft determination before making its final decision.

The arrangements granted by the ACCC in 2007 expired on 22 October 2013. On 17 October 2013 the ACCC granted interim authorisation.

Interim authorisation allows the collective bargaining arrangement to continue until the ACCC makes a final decision about whether to re-authorise the arrangement.