The SDA is a union that promotes the interests and defends the rights of employees in the retail and distribution industries. We act on behalf of our members to protect and improve wages and conditions of employment, as well as providing many other services.

Support. By joining a union, gain strength and support when negotiating with employers. Improvements in wages and conditions come only because the SDA appears before the Industrial Tribunals and presents well-researched cases. All improvements are hard fought for and won by the SDA. As all retail employees benefit by the SDA’s activities it is only fair that everyone be a Union member and contribute.

Protection – The SDA protects its members against threats to their jobs, such as unfair dismissal, victimisation, sexual harassment, discrimination and intimidation. The SDA also ensures that members are receiving the entitlements that the Union has won for them.

The Specialists – The SDA provides staff to visit workplaces, and employs specialists in workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, women’s issues and industrial relations in order to maintain services to members.

Organisers make regular visits to worksites to discuss issues with members and place Union material on staff room noticeboards. Many of our enterprise agreements also provide for 15 or 30 minute Union meetings on paid company time.

One of the most effective ways to getting involved and having a say is to become a Delegate, elected by your work mates to represent them.

• Recruit new members to the SDA.
• Care about their workmates and the environment in which they work.
• Help those who cannot help themselves when confronted by management.
• Communicate information they receive from the SDA to members.
• Interact between employees and management, employees and the SDA, and management and the SDA. They act as “go-betweens”.

To give the best service to its members the SDA needs Delegates in all areas to take up issues with employers on behalf of our members.

A delegate will receive training on issues related to the Union and its members. We supply a delegate with a copy of the relevant award or agreement, a handbook on how to approach various issues, and other printed material the SDA produces.

As well as this, a delegate is regularly contacted by the Union Organiser and receives updates in the mail.

Transferring from one Branch of a Company to another Branch

It would normally be expected that your membership details would be passed from one store to another in this case. Your staff file would also be transferred. This should include the Authority To Deduct (fees) form that allows your new Pay Officer to commence fee deduction at that store.

However, you should always check to make sure that this occurs. This sometimes gets 'lost' in the transfer process.

Transferring from one Company to another Company

In this case, your membership payments cease from the last pay you received from your previous employer however you still remain a member and it is necessary to advise us of your new place of employment or, if you have retired or left the industry, your resignation. If this is not done then your membership fees will continue to accumulate.

At the new company you need to complete a new application form (available from your Pay Office or from the SDA Notice Board or SDA Shop Steward) and the new application form will be sent to our office. Your new employer will receive your Authority To Deduct (fees) and will commence weekly payroll deductions.

Transferring from Interstate

If you move interstate you must re-apply for membership at your new store even if the same Company employs you.

The issue in this case is the union ... not your employer. Although the SDA is a National Association, each Branch of the SDA operates as a separate identity.

The Rules of each Branch require that members complete an application form relevant to that State.

They are responsible for the wages and working conditions of most Australian workers.

Unions negotiate for improvements to members working conditions through the award system and through enterprise bargaining to create certified agreements (sometimes known as EBAs) Unions help to ensure that employers comply with these agreements and awards.

They are responsible for trying to defend the jobs of workers against redundancy and retrenchment threats.

They are responsible for obtaining social justice through improved wages and conditions for workers and their families.

The SDA also assists its members by providing advice on a number of workplace issues including unfair dismissal, sexual harassment, WorkCover claims and changes in the workplace. The SDA provides advice to its members free of charge. The only cost to members is the weekly cost of membership, which is tax deductible. This fee is based on a sliding scale to ensure workers who earn lower wages pay less for their membership.

Membership includes access to union organisers who vist workplaces and provide general advice to members on a range of issues. Being a member of the union gives members access to wide-ranging advice from a number of specialists qualified in areas such as worker's compensation, occupational health and safety, women's issues and industrial relations.

They are responsible for helping women achieve equality of opportunity.

Unions also act as a pressure group to lobby the government to create changes to legislation (laws). Examples of this are Occupational Health and Safety legislation and WorkCover legislation. Therefore, unions are able to make major improvements for many workers by promoting the interests of all workers to state and federal governments.

As well as assisting members with workplace issues, the SDA also provides a wide range of benefits and discount services. The SDA membership card offers members a selection of discount entertainment, accommodation, discount entry to theme parks and discount dining around Australia. As a member you can also take advantage of other discount services such as discount dental, optical and health care.

Some people say that unions used to be important but that now all workers have decent wages and conditions and union demands only disrupt the economy. They say unions have outlived their usefulness. But good wages and conditions do not just happen. They come about only because unions work for them. If unions went out of existence, the workers would have no means of defending themselves and very quickly their wages and conditions would deteriorate.

Unions are vital in preserving and enhancing the wages and working conditions of workers.