SDA News April 2024

At the end of 2023 the previous Branch Secretary Chris Gazenbeek was honoured to be offered a role as a Commissioner in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, which he accepted. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the SDA to thank Chris for his dedicated service to the SDA’s members and wish him all the best in this new role.

With Chris’s departure the SDA State Council asked me to take on the responsibility of Branch Secretary. I commenced the role on 20th December 2023.

We also have a new Assistant Secretary. Tony Stapleton was the Queensland Branch Trainer and has been a long time employee of the SDA, and I have every confidence that Tony will excel in the role of Assistant Secretary.

More than 36 years ago I started work with a large retailer and joined the union. The other employees at my store were in the union and we had very few problems.

8 years later I changed retail companies but made sure to bring my SDA membership with me. There were a lot of problems at my new workplace so I put my hand up and became an SDA Shop Steward. Together with our Organiser we built the membership, and bit by bit, as membership grew, things improved. I learnt the important

FROM THE NEW SDA QLD LEADERSHIP TEAM Hello!

lesson that we are always stronger together and the difference legitimate trade unions make.

Several years later I started working for the SDA as an Organiser, first Organising Night Fill teams, and then the Northern half of the Gold Coast. I later took on the role of Branch Trainer and in 2014 I became the Assistant Secretary.

In those roles I have had the privilege to work closely with SDA members, SDA Shop Stewards and SDA Delegates across Queensland, whether it was negotiating Agreements for D.C. members, representing retail workers or educating young fast food members. I am particularly proud to have assisted our previous Secretary in achieving membership growth, 2 extra Public Holidays, improvements to the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act and a host of other benefits for SDA members.

The SDA taught me that we are always stronger together and that is as true today as it was when I first started working in Retail. When your workplace is well unionised you are more likely to know your rights, your rates of pay and where to go if something goes wrong. Problems are fixed sooner when you have a Shop Steward or Delegate and there is a real sense of community and looking out for each other in a well unionised SDA workplace.

We work together to make our workplaces safer, improve our members work/life balance in retail, fast food and in distribution centres, and have employees properly rewarded for the hard work they put into supporting their workplace and community.

This challenge remains as relevant today as ever. Amidst the cost of living crisis it will be our priority to: Campaign for fair pay rises; Bargain for 5 weeks annual leave; Ensure safer workplaces including addressing the problem of excessive workloads.

All of this comes from a union that listens to its members and has a strong workplace focus. That is why very soon, Tony and I are visiting as many workplaces as we physically can in the coming months to say ‘G’day’ to as many members as possible and listen to what is important to you.

And we have the support of a strong team of Officials, Administrative Staff, Shop Stewards and Delegates. Together we will make the SDA Queensland Branch stronger. There is much work to be done and I very much look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

Justin Power State Secretary

One of the long-standing goals of the union movement is dignity in employment. If you’re working, no matter your occupation, you should be able to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach.

In recent times, that has not been the case. Inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic caused a wide-spread cost of living issue. Food went up. Housing went up. Utilities went up. It’s hard to find anything that is a similar price to what it was just a few years ago.

Inflation has now started to ease – but Australian wages are still lagging behind the cost of living. That’s why the SDA is again campaigning to lift the wages of shop and warehouse workers in the Annual Wage Review (AWR) case before the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

The AWR is the process that sets the wage increases in Awards in Australia, which flow on into many of our SDA-negotiated Agreements too.

Every year, the SDA is part of the process of winning wage rises by working closely with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) as we make submissions to the FWC.

The SDA and ACTU advocate on behalf of workers in Australia for a fair and decent pay increase.

In 2023, the SDA and the ACTU campaigned for a significant increase to combat the rising cost of living and wage stagnation, and we were able to secure a decent pay rise which saw many members receive a 5.75% pay increase. At the time, inflation was 6%.

But despite what was achieved last year, many Australians are still struggling to pay for their basic

needs and to live in dignity. Workers will fall further behind if another considerable pay rise is not won in this year’s Award Wage Review.

The cost of everyday essential items continues to remain out of reach for many and members cannot afford to have their wages fall behind the cost of living increases.

The SDA will be campaigning now and over the coming months for better wages both in the AWR case and in all of our enterprise bargaining with different companies.

SDA members’ input is critical to winning better pay, so watch out for SDA Surveys as well as any other opportunities to participate in the SDA pay rise campaign.

Why should SDA members receive a fair pay rise?

It’s simple: SDA members deserve better wages because they’re essential, they’re working harder and because they’re worth it!

Help us secure fair and decent pay rises for Australian workers in 2024 – make sure everyone in your workplace is an SDA member so we can unite together to win better wages. Because you’re worth it.

Tony Stapleton Assistant Secretary

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Working before or after your shift

Working a few extra minutes before or after your shift might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up.

If you work an extra 10 minutes each shift and aren’t being paid for this, that can quickly add up to hundreds lost in pay.

What should I be paid if I work extra minutes or hours?

Firstly, if you’re being asked to stay back or come in early, you must be paid for this time. There is no exception to this and if you’re not being paid, this is unlawful.

If you choose to work for a few extra minutes, you should be paid at either your ordinary rate or your overtime rates - depending on the circumstances.

My employer is telling me I have to get to work early to do prework tasks, is this true?

No. If you’re being asked to come in early - or stay back late - without pay, you do have the right to say no to working this extra time.

Provided you’re being paid, your employer can request you to work overtime if the request is reasonable.

To determine whether this request is reasonable, your employer should consider your personal circumstances (e.g., family responsibilities), the amount of notice given, your role and work responsibilities.

It should not be an expectation by your employer that you should regularly come in early or stay back late to complete work duties.

Other ways you might be losing out at work

There are many ways you can miss out on getting paid properly including:

• Working through rest or meal breaks;

• ‘Clocking off’ and then going back to work;

• Completing compulsory training or paper work at home;

• Not being paid the correct overtime rate.

What should I do if I’m doing unpaid work before or after my shift?

This is unlawful and you have the right to raise this and pursue back pay.

The SDA is committed to stamping out unpaid work in all industries. You should contact us as soon as possible so we can investigate and pursue this for you.

$10 million recovered at ALDI DC

Last year, the SDA won up to $10 million in back pay for workers at ALDI DC after taking ALDI to the Federal Court for underpaying workers.

ALDI was requiring DC workers to clock-on prior to their rostered start time to undertake ‘pre-work’ duties without pay.

These duties included undertaking safety checks, picking up required items, administrative matters and a group warm up.

These kind of duties should not be done off the clock.

This isn’t limited to just ALDI Warehouses. Whether you work in a DC, retail or fast food, we know there are workers right across the country who are being pressured to come in early or stay back late every day.

If you’re being forced to come in early without pay, contact the SDA for advice and assistance.

Darryn Gaffy SDA Industrial Officer

WHY DO Queenslanders celebrate Labour Day?

Labour Day is celebrated by many nations around the world to commemorate the achievements of the union movement.

However, Labour Day has a very special place in Queensland history, and so is celebrated more widely than other Australian States.

The first march was held in 1891 during the Shearer’s strike in Barcaldine. The first Monday in May was chosen in 1901 when it was proclaimed a public holiday.

Since then Labour Day has consistently been celebrated in Queensland on the first Monday in May.

Labour Day celebrations in Queensland provide the opportunity to reflect upon the achievements of union members and our supporters in the community and their ability to change the course of history.

Labour Day recognises the vast majority of the community who go about their jobs with little or no recognition.

The contribution that these ordinary workers make to society and the economy would otherwise go unnoticed and uncelebrated.

Much has been achieved for the wider community since the introduction in Queensland of the 8 hour working day in 1893, based on the ideal of eight hours work, eight hours recreation, and eight hours rest on a working day.

Labour Day acknowledges the improvements made to the lives of working people – and to our society – by the labour movement.

Improvements such as paid leave (including paid parental leave); universal superannuation; equal pay for women and shorter working hours; as well as improvements to working conditions and workplace health and safety.

It is also timely to reflect upon decent penalty rates and the minimum wage, so relied upon by many Australian workers to maintain a decent standard of living.

These improvements to conditions of employment were achieved – and remain in place – through the commitment of union members and community support.

Labour Day celebrates the achievements of workers within, and for, their community.

It’s a time to recognize how this progress has benefited Australian society as a whole.

Justin Power State Secretary

SUPER’S IMPROVING, BUT IT’S TIME TO STEP IT UP.

The SDA has been campaigning for dignity in retirement for retail, distribution and fast food workers for many years. In 1988, we won an employer contribution for superannuation for most members starting at 1.5% and increasing to 3%. By 1 July 2025, this will increase to 12%. SDA members have also gained from the benefit of compounding interest.

Superannuation needs to get even fairer.

PAY DAY SUPERANNUATION

Following the Labor Government announcement in May 2023 of pay day superannuation, employers will be required to pay their employees’ super at the same time as their salary and wages from 1 July 2026.

It will reduce the risk of superannuation theft because the systems will be consistent, and non-payment will be noticed sooner.

This reform has now passed Parliament and will come into effect on 1 July 2026.

SUPERANNUATION IN NES

The SDA will also be able to take up members’ concerns about non-payment of super more easily, following the introduction of super as part of the National Employment Standards.

CONGRATS PENNY

It means that the SDA can raise the matter through the fair work system, rather than the court system.

SUPERANNUATION FOR JUNIORS UNDER 18

There is more to do to make super fairer.

Super is neither guaranteed to be paid to all under 18 year olds, nor is it guaranteed to be paid on a range of other wage payments, including parental leave.

A recent report showed that about 375,000 of Australia’s youngest workers are locked out of the nation’s worldclass retirement system because they are not entitled to compulsory super contributions by their employer, unless they work more than 30 hours a week for the same employer.

The rule that if you’re under 18, you need to work more than 30 hours in a week to receive a superannuation contribution from your employer could ultimately cost each worker more than $10,000.

To make superannuation fairer, it needs to be paid on every dollar you earn.

SUPERANNUATION ON PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

The SDA welcomes the Albanese government’s announcement that it will pay superannuation on government funded paid parental leave from July 1st 2025.

As a union representing a large number of women, many of them lower paid, the SDA has been fighting for this initiative for several years.

It will improve gender equality for tens of thousands of women.

Women currently retire with far less superannuation than men and this will be another step to enable them to enjoy a secure retirement.

From July 1st 2025, the government will pay 12 percent superannuation on top of Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave to those families who take such leave to care for their newborns.

More than 180,000 women receive the payment annually.

Congratulations to Penny from Coles who has just celebrated her 35 year milestone working for the company.

She has been full-time for the entire time and has stayed for the job security and friendly team members who she has become friends with over the years.

When she started working at Coles, it was a given thing to be a member of the SDA - if you had a job, you joined your union.

She has stayed a member over the years

to take advantage of the professional advice and support provided when she needed it.

She has seen a lot of change over her career at Coles, especially during and after the COVID pandemic.

She says: “I would never be without union membership because of the security and support given to me over the years by my Shop Steward, Organiser and the entire SDA team”

By Naomi McQuire, SDA Organiser

SDA calls for more protections in the Work Health and Safety Amendment

In January 2024 SDA Industrial Officer Darryn Gaffy and I addressed the Queensland Education, Employment and Training Committee in a Public Hearing about the Work Health and Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023.

We took the opportunity to address our submission, supporting the already proposed amendments while pressing some further potential amendments on behalf of SDA members working in retail, warehousing and fast food.

The first suggested amendment was legislated access to safe and free car parking. Retail and Fast Food workers lose a significant chunk of their take-home pay to paid parking, or alternatively have to find a carpark off site - which, after dark, leaves someone’s Mother, Daughter, Son or Father wandering the streets (sometimes lit, sometimes not) late at night, perhaps in fear of their safety.

If shopping centres were required to provide free, safe, lit parking for the employees within those centres, then those workers could leave work feeling a lot safer and their families not have to worry about them.

The second suggested amendment was in relation to customer abuse and violence. We pressed to the committee the importance of legislating to make it the employers direct responsibility to protect their employees from customer abuse and to have them introduce deterrent and protective measures.

This is a serious issue for retail and fast food workers, with a recent survey revealing 87% have suffered verbal abuse, 76% on a regular basis.

Many employers have already been doing the right thing by introducing protections like body cameras and customer messaging.

Some employers have even introduced security guards to protect their employees, but this is generally after a traumatic event and is very rarely a long-term measure.

This is seriously affecting the mental health of our essential frontline workers with 63% of survey respondents reporting suffering from physical and/or emotional health impacts from customer abuse and violence.

These are issues the SDA feels very strongly about and we will keep coming back to them until employees, all employees, can go to work and feel safe. They should not have to choose between their work and wellbeing.

Justin Power, SDA State Secretary

SDA BARGAINING UPDATE

BIG W DC

BEST AND LESS

Following extensive negotiations between the SDA and Best and Less, employees have voted up a new enterprise agreement, securing better wages, fairer rostering and other hard won SDA union conditions. It will now go to the FWC for approval.

The proposed offer from Big W DC has received a positive vote from members securing a payrise, improved PPE conditions, a rest pause for 4 hour shifts and more.

HUNGRY JACKS

WOOLWORTHS

Negotiations continue at Woolworths as the SDA continues to press our key priorities for members including: better wages, protection of penalty rates, fairer rostering and more time off with pay.

Members have recently completed their EBA Surveys to tell the SDA what they would like to see included in a new EBA and bargaining has now commenced.

DAVID JONES

COLES & COLES LIQUOR

The new Coles Agreement, covering Coles Supermarkets and Coles Liquor employees, has received a positive vote from employees. It will now go to the Fair Work Commission for approval.

Following a ballot of David Jones employees, a majority have voted yes in favour of the proposed new Agreement securing better wages, fairer rostering and more time off with pay. It will now go to the Fair Work Commission for approval.

SUPER RETAIL GROUP

A majority of Super Retail Group employees have voted yes in favour of the new Super Retail Group Agreement, ensuring better wages, improved classifications and improved penalty rates.