About the SDA Union and its history

At work with you in Western Australia

The SDA WA Branch represents members in Perth and throughout regional Western Australia.

The SDA has branches in every state and territory in Australia, so wherever you are, you can count on us to represent you and be there to help when you need it.

The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) is one of Australia’s largest trade unions representing retail, fast food and warehouse workers.

As a union and registered employee organisation under the Fair Work Act 2009, the SDA is not-for-profit organisation funded only by members, for members.

The SDA is governed by the rules of the Association and our audited accounts are published annually and are made freely available to all members.

Our structure and mission

The Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the SDA are elected by members and assisted by a Committee of Management which is also elected by members.

The Union is affiliated to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Australian Labor Party, Unions WA and UNI Global Union.

The SDA fights for better pay and conditions and offers help to its members at all levels, from the shop floor to the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Court.

The SDA has a long history of advocating on behalf of members and making genuine improvements to the working lives of thousands of members across Australia.

Our history

In 1908, unions representing retail workers in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia joined together to become Federally registered as the Shop Assistants’ and Warehouse Employees’ Federation of Australia. Over time, state unions in Tasmania, Newcastle and Western Australia became part of the national union too.

In 1972 the union changed its name to the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association.

As a result of the union’s hard work and dedication since the 1890’s, SDA members are among the highest paid retail, fast food and warehouse workers in the world today.

We have fought to ensure Australian workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, have the right to time off and are treated with respect at work.

This photograph of the Union’s banner for an 8 hour day procession was taken on the corner of Wellington and William Street in Perth, 1922.

‘Procession turns into Wellington Street, 1922’ Sourced from the Izzy Orloff Collection, via the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Western Australia.

Throughout the years, the SDA has won fantastic improvements to for retail workers, including the five-day week, the 38-hour week, equal pay for women, and, one of our greatest achievements of all, superannuation for retail workers.

This photograph of the Union’s parade float was taken in Forrest St. Boulder, outside S. Beston’s store, 1910.

‘Parade float for the Eastern Goldfields Shop Assistant’s & Warehouse Employees Industrial Union of Workers in Forrest St. Boulder, outside S. Beston’s store, ca.1910’ sourced from the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Western Australia.

The SDA has stood side by side with Australia’s workers as the retail and associated distribution industries have revolutionised throughout the decades. We’ve endured historical events from the Great Depression to World Wars and then transformational changes of consumer culture in the 1960’s with the advent of American-style shopping centres and multinational companies.

The SDA was key player in campaigning for paid maternity leave, occupational health and safety issues and has always at the forefront of protecting workers from unfair dismissal, termination and redundancy. We were at the forefront of the campaign against John Howard’s Workchoices which undermined the rights of ordinary Australian workers.

The recent historical shifts of online shopping, delivery and particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that retail and warehouse workers are essential. While much of the community was stood down or worked from the safety of home, retail and warehouse workers continued to show up every day and keep our society running during an uncertain time. The SDA worked hard during this time to ensure workers were protected with the implementation of Perspex screens, safeguards against surging customer abuse and violence as well as ensuring only essential work was performed during lockdowns.

The strong working rights that Australians enjoy today were fought for and won by unions and their members.

What we've achieved

You can thank SDA Union Members for:

One of the highest minimum wages in the world
Public holidays
Universal superannuation
Health and safety rights
Equal pay for women
Parental leave
Penalty rates
Leave entitlements
The right to bargain and negotiate
Job security

Today the SDA remains committed to representing the best interest of its members by:

Advocating for fair wages and working conditions
Promoting workplace health and safety
Pushing back against unfair workplace agreements and practices
Supporting policies that benefit all Australian workers

The SDA has lead the campaign for paid parental leave and workplace health and safety and is always at the forefront of protecting workers from unfair dismissal, termination and redundancy.

The SDA will always support campaigns that promote sensible and progressive rights for ordinary Australian workers.

The SDA is member-focused and will be front and centre if the right to a “fair go” of any of its members is challenged.

Why Join the SDA

Our impact

Over 220,000 SDA union members standing together across Australia.

More than $7 million recovered in claims and compensation for SDA members in 2024 alone.

A strong and united voice for retail, fast food & warehousing workers for over 130 years.

Watch what we can achieve together

Join over 200,000 SDA union members

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About the Union