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We wake up each day to a world where uncertainty feels like the new normal. Where global tensions are rising, new tariffs are putting pressure on the cost of living, and even our power bills have turned into political battlegrounds. It’s no wonder we’re all looking for a bit more security, strength, and certainty.

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.