The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union was established in December 2016, as a response to increased dissatisfaction with the existing Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA).

[6] Following Josh Cullinan's success with the Hart decision in which the Fair Work Commission rejected the 2014 EBA due to its failure to pass the Better Off Overall Test or "BOOT" that an agreement must meet when compared to the relevant award.

[12] It raised concerns over concessions made by the SDA including that it didn't require back pay for any period prior that was underpaid, that by saving the existing base rate for current employees and paying new employees just 55¢ above the minimum wage would create a two-tiered workforce and throw the security of existing employees into jeopardy as well as locking in future changes and mirroring award penalty rates that were scheduled to lower on 1 July 2018, despite the SDA's public campaign against these cuts to penalty rates by the Fair Work Commission.

[18] Under these agreements, delivery drivers weren't paid casual loading, penalty rates and received a driving allowance that was less than required under the Fast Food Award.

[18] In November 2017, the Fair Work Commission approved the termination of the enterprise agreement, resulting in Domino's employees being placed within the industry award within 12 weeks.

[19] During that time, negotiations began between Domino's and the SDA for a new national enterprise agreement that was slated for a vote by employees in early January 2018.

RAFFWU raised concerns about the agreement as it traded "fixed start and finish times" for part-time employees for a two-cent pay rise.

[21] In March 2018, the enterprise agreement was abandoned and withdrawn by Domino's, who decided to continue to cover their employees under the industry Fast Food Award.

In mid-2019, RAFFWU member Xzavier Kelly filed an application with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for the backdated termination of the 'McDonald's Australia Enterprise Agreement 2013'.

[29] RAFFWU is now working with SHINE Lawyers to pursue a class action lawsuit against McDonald's, alleging systematic denial of water and toilet breaks and seeking eligible workers to register.

[30] In 2017, RAFFWU was involved in terminating expired enterprise and Workchoices era agreements covering Bakers Delight employees, elevating those affected to the modern award and restoring minimum rates of pay and other entitlements.

Some of these practices include the negotiation of workplace agreements which reduced wages below Award rates,[39] the former's lack of political independence,[1] its socially conservative stances towards abortion and same-sex marriage,[40] as well as its perceived "undemocratic" and "top-down" nature.