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This Federal Election we encourage people to genuinely consider the workplace rights our members have gained, and that are under threat. If we lose them now, we may never get them back.

Every year the Fair Work Commission reviews the National Minimum Wage and the minimum rates of pay in modern awards to decide whether they should be increased - this process is called the Annual Wage Review (AWR). The decision is made by a Fair Work Commission expert panel who review submissions made by unions, employer groups and other interested parties and consider the current economic climate.

In 2023, SDA members from around the country participated in an academic study lead by Victoria University. The research, funded the by the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) and in partnership with the Australian Retailers Association, looked at how automation and digital technology might affect the skills workers need for working in warehousing. The research project aimed to better understand workers’ awareness, current skills and attitudes towards automation and digitisation. It also asked what skills people thought they might need to continue to work in warehousing.

We are thrilled to introduce two new Organisers who have recently joined the SDA team: Gerard Axiak and Ed Uzelin. Both have been with the SDA for around a year, initially working as Recruitment Organisers, and have now stepped into their new roles as Area Organisers.

Most retail stores are designed to rely on air conditioning as the primary source of airflow. This means that regardless of whether customers are present, the air conditioning should remain on during work hours to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for team members. Without this airflow, the store can quickly become uncomfortably hot. If air conditioning is broken or switched off, workers can experience discomfort or even heat-related illnesses, including headaches, dizziness, and other symptoms that affect people differently.

Superannuation is designed to earn interest by investing. Super also helps pay for insurance and advice to keep you on track for a decent retirement. Super should be paid on top of every dollar you earn and should be paid each pay day. At present, it’s paid on most, but not all earnings.

Under the current Labor Government, unions and union members have won huge improvements to their pay, conditions and workplace rights. Significant changes the SDA has long campaigned for have become law including super on paid parental leave, paid family and domestic leave and stronger rights for union shop stewards and delegates. Wages have started to trend upwards again, bargaining is expanding and delivering new and improved agreements and new rights are helping provide better, safer and fairer workplaces for everyone. SDA members should be proud of what we’ve achieved but also consider that it could be at risk this Federal Election.