The SDA has consistently led the way in safeguarding and promoting your rights on public holidays in Queensland.
Over many years of campaigning, the SDA has secured fair pay on public holidays, maintained strong entitlements to voluntary work and won new public holidays in Queensland including Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday.
It’s thanks to advocacy by the SDA that the majority of retail, fast food and warehousing workers have:
- Voluntary working rights on public holidays
- The right to earn public holiday penalty rates usually of 200-250%
- The right to the day off without loss of pay if you’re permanent
Only the SDA and SDA members fight to make sure you have a fair choice on public holidays and other important days.
In 2016, the SDA won Easter Sunday as a permanent public holiday in Queensland
This landmark change has benefitted every Queensland worker on Easter Sunday.
It means workers earn public holiday penalty rates on Easter Sunday if they work. It means permanent workers can have Easter Sunday off with pay, meaning many more workers can now spend Easter with their families and friends.
Despite Easter Sunday being one of the most important days of the year, it wasn’t recognised as a public holiday until the SDA pushed for change.
In 2019, the SDA won Christmas Eve as a part-day public holiday in Queensland
In 2019, after a hard-fought campaign by the SDA, Queensland recognised Christmas Eve as a part-day public holiday from 6pm to midnight.
Thanks to the SDA, retail, fast-food and warehouse workers who work late on Christmas Eve now have the right to spend these nights with family and friends – or to choose to work after 6pm and receive higher pay.
Previously, they received no recognition or extra money for working unsociable hours on these festive occasions – and now that has all changed.
