SDA News 2014 Summer

SDANEWS OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH I SUMMER 2014 I RRP $8.00

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’TIS THE SEASON...

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YOU CALE R SDA 2 0 N ISr IN DAR CA 15 SERT RD IN TH ED ISSU IS E d

SHOP, DIS TRIBUTI VE EMPLOYE Y ES’ ASS AND ALLLIED NSSW BR OCIATION, ANCH

SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, NSW BRANCH

WWW.SDANSW.ORG.AU I PHONE 131 SDA STREET ADDRESS: POSTAL ADDRESS: E-MAIL: SDA NEWS EDITOR:

Level 3, 8 Quay Street, Sydney NSW 2000 PO Box K230, Haymarket NSW 1240 secretary@sdansw.asn.au

Bernie Smith, Level 3, 8 Quay Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Please address all correspondence to “The Secretary”.

UNION OFFICERS: SECRETARY: Bernie Smith ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Robert Tonkli PRESIDENT: Greg Donnelly ORGANISERS METROPOLITAN: Lena Adam, Mark Gronowski, Anthony Maiatico, Anthony Attard, Jakub Werstak, Alex Velickovic, Sarah Moody, Caroline Israel, Chris Stefanovski, Angela Ghanime, Mina Papadopoulos, Rose Ghabache, Tina Callaghan, Joel Tynan, Karl San Pedro, Hugh McLaurin, Anthony Day, Joanne Jammal, Chris Khalil, Whitney Rizk, Alex del Rosario, Alison Varga, Angelo Pardo.

REGIONAL: Lower South Coast, Southern Highlands & Canberra: Athol Williams and Julie Myers  phone 6273 2300 Riverina (Wagga/Albury): Struan Timms  phone 6921 8820 Western NSW (Orange/Dubbo): Louise Buesnell and Loretta Turner (part-time Organiser)  phone 6362 1965 Far North Coast (Ballina/Tweed): Trevor McCosker  phone 6686 4192 Wollongong & Illawarra: Vera Cavanagh and Di Dixon (part-time Organiser)  phone 4228 3611 Port Macquarie and Tamworth Region: Paul Mitchell  phone 6583 8837 Coffs Harbour and Armidale Region: Mariusz Werstak and Bridget Sheridan (casual Organiser)  phone 6650 9950 WAREHOUSING AND MANUFACTURING: Joseph Bourke, John Paul Sialafau SPECIALISTS INDUSTRIAL OFFICERS: Phil Walker, Bernard Govind, Mitchell Worsley, Aliscia Di Mauro WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND OHS OFFICERS: Michael Babic, Jane Lui SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER: Felicity Smithson OPERATIONS OFFICER: Paul Hangan COMMUNICATIONS OFFICERS: Michael Walker, Tim Leong INFORMATION OFFICERS: Corrine Boyle, Elizabeth Cody, David Uzzell, Georgina Psillis, Renee Jaajaa, Monica Rose EDUCATION OFFICER: Philippe LeCompte

PAGE 2 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

2014 in Brief I would like to thank all members, Delegates and Officials for what has been a successful year of growing and delivering for the SDA. Your Union has grown this year, and that helps us deliver more for members. As we look back on 2014, it was a year where we faced the challenges of:   

Retail trading hours; Employer attacks on penalty rates; and The need to fix up junior rates.

I am proud to say that they are all areas where we have had wins this year: Despite the constant attacks on our right to shared time with our family, friends and community on special days like Christmas Day and Boxing Day, not one new application to trade on Boxing Day in NSW has been approved.

Despite the best efforts of the O’Farrell and Baird Governments to open all hours, Boxing Day remains a restricted trading day. This is thanks to members, Delegates, Take The Time partners and the support you gave by attending meetings across NSW and the ACT in March; the over 12,000 signatures that you collected; the presentation of the petition to parliament. That is why this year, Boxing Day still belongs to family and friends.

We had a win on penalty rates for workers in Canberra, with new laws declaring additional public holidays when Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fall on a weekend, including full penalty rates. This means that next year, ACT weekend workers will get full penalty rates when Boxing Day falls on a Saturday.

We are also shifting the debate on penalty rates from the whingeing cafe owner to actually dealing with some economic facts, with the release of the McKell Penalty Rates report, and recognising that penalty rates are fair compensation for working at unsociable hours.

A highlight this year was the win on junior rates for 20-year-old workers, with junior rates for 20 year olds abolished in the General Retail Award. This delivers on the first phase of our 100% pay @18+ campaign. It is a win for each member who helped gather the over 50,000 supporters for the campaign.

Adult rates of pay for adults just makes sense.

The quality of the candidates for the inaugural SDA Young Workmate of the Year Award (see page 15) shows that young adults are making a huge contribution to our workplaces every day and deserve full pay.

Add to these wins: 

The over 100,000 retail, fast food, pharmaceutical and warehouse workers in NSW and the ACT who got a pay rise this year through SDA-negotiated Agreements;



Our first SDA National Safety Week, with 500 safety audits undertaken and 2,000 safety chats completed in NSW.



Up to $500,000 payable to injured members with the SDA’s Journey Insurance scheme;



Over $1million recovered for members in underpayments, unfair dismissals and workers’ compensation;



Members kept informed about issues more rapidly than ever before through SDA emails and SMS messages (over 1,000,000 e-messages sent to members this year);



Over $500,000 in savings for families just on movie tickets;



Taking the Time, with over 10,000 members and guests enjoying specially-priced SDA events from the 2,500 at our Family Day at Wet’N’Wild Sydney in March, to SDA Picnic Day events across NSW in November;

Money raised for good causes, including over $16,000 for research into breast cancer, $7,500 to help the Children’s Hospital care for sick kids, and $10,000 to help combat homelessness with the St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleepout.

All up, it’s been a great year for SDA members, thanks to you – our members and Delegates.

I again thank all members and Delegates for your work and support this year. I wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and an absolute cracker of a Boxing Day! Take the time with family and friends to have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

I look forward to serving you into 2015! 

Bernie Smith, Branch Secretary

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 3

industrial update...

FighƟng for fairn

One of the SDA’s main tasks is to improve our members’ wages and working conditions through enterprise bargaining, meaning that if you’re covered by an EBA, you get regular pay increases. Currently, we’re negotiating with the following companies to improve employees’ conditions:  Jalco Cosmetics  Nambucca River Co-op  Wollongong UniCentre  IGA Arora  IGA Wetherill Park  R & R Supa IGA  Supabarn  GSF  Coles Supermarkets  Woolworths Supermarkets

In November, State Parliament debated whether to maintain restrictions on trading on the remaining four and a half days when trading is currently restricted. The

by Bernie Smith Branch Secretary debate was triggered after over 12,000 NSW residents – including workers, religious leaders and MPs – signed a petition calling on Parliament to protect the important days from retail trading.

The State Government made it very clear that it is looking to remove retail trading restrictions on the final few remaining trading-free days.

We call on NSW MPs not to ruin Christmas for thousands of workers and their families by allowing trading on the last few remaining public holidays.

The benefits to the economy of any further retail trading deregulation are negligible and – at best – illusory, yet the social cost to workers, families and communities is real and growing.

It’s disappointing that the State Government is so clearly intent on forcing people to open shops on the final few remaining shopping-free days, rather than allowing workers to spend time with their families.

Some MPs argue that it’s just about choice, but what choice are they leaving workers?

One Liberal MP believes his family’s right to go shopping outweighs retail workers’ right to family time on these days. It’s amazing how out of touch these ideas are.

Retail workers serve the community 360½ days a year.

They deserve a break.

Some stores intend to open on Christmas Day The Union was informed that shops at Market City intended to trade on Christmas Day. This is the ultimate result of the Government indicating that inspectors would turn a blind eye, or take a “commonsense” approach to some breaches of the Retail Trading Act. Such comments encourage some retailers to stretch the limits of what is acceptable.

This is an outrageous attack on our right to spend Christmas with our families and friends. Our right to see our kids open their Christmas presents, or be with them at the family gathering must outweigh the selfish

Upcoming Wage Increases The following companies have wages rise coming up: Employer Date of Pay Weekly Rise (2015) Increase* Dan Murphy’s 1 January $11.45 Woolworths Supermarkets (Grade 2) 1 January $11.91 Woolworths Petrol (Grade 2) 1 January $11.62 BWS 1 January $12.76 Target 1 February $10.50 David Jones 1 February $12.00 Big W 1 February $11.31 Masters 1 February $22.64 Myer 1 February $ 8.00 The Reject Shop 1 February $11.21

Hourly Rate* $20.39 $21.19 $20.69 $21.08 $20.13 $19.68 $20.15 $20.46 $19.13 $20.64

Casual Rate $25.49 $25.43 $25.86 $25.29 $24.15 $23.62 $24.18 $24.75 $23.53 $25.63

*for permanent employees

did you know...

TerƟary EducaƟon Assistance from the SDA Members can apply right now for assistance with the cost of undertaking tertiary education through the SDA’s Tertiary Education Assistance Program (TEAP).

The application form can be downloaded from the SDA website at sdansw.org.au

TERTIARY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2015 APPLICATION FORM

Under this program, ten SDA members at University will receive $1,200 each and six members at TAFE will receive $600 each towards their educational expenses.

Applications must reach the SDA by Friday 16 January.

PAGE 4 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

The SDA is proud to help SDA members who are studying at a tertiary level with their education costs.

The Union has $1,200 TEAP packages

for

SDA members to assist them with expenses relating to their university studies in 2015.

There are also six $600 TEAP packages to help those studying at TAFE and

other

tertiary colleges in 2015.

Full details are set out in the “Conditions of Entry” on the back of this leaflet.

Members must use the Application

Form

contained in this leaflet to apply. Please attach additional pages if you require more space.

Applications must be received by

the

applicants will be notified by post

in

SDA’s Sydney office no later than 16 January 2015, and successful February 2015.

But remember – the Tertiary Education Assistance Program is available only to financial members of the Union.

Helping to Build Your Future

rness; Christmas Day under aƩack desire of those who think a cheap toaster is more important than having families together on these special days.

The people of NSW want our MPs to commit to protecting Christmas.

I wrote to the Minister responsible, asking him to take action against any breaches of the Retail Trading Act. At the time SDA News went to print, no response from the Minister had been received on this important matter.

Angry Santas protest stores planning to open illegally on Christmas Day Santas, backed up by Take The Time supporters, rallied outside Sydney stores in early December, protesting moves by some retailers to illegally open their shops on Christmas Day. Workers at a number of Sydney stores have been asked to work on Christmas Day, despite it being against the law. Following our action, a number of retailers withdrew their plans to trade on Christmas Day.

Opening stores on 25 December, apart from being against the law, is an outrageous attack on workers’ right to spend the festive period with friends and family.

To open stores on Christmas Day, forcing workers to spend this special holiday away from their family and friends, is the height of irresponsibility and corporate greed.

Our shops are open 360½ days a year. Christmas and Boxing Day come around just once a year. No matter their age, religion or career choice, families should to be able to celebrate that time together.

The State Government has to take some responsibility for the situation we’ve now found ourselves in. They have made it very clear that they want to remove trading restrictions on important days like Boxing Day. The SDA will continue to fight for fairness and family. f Keep up to date at

facebook.com/takethetime

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 5

Public Holidays Should be Your Time Asking non members in your workplace to join the SDA is one way that you can act to ensure that this entitlement is retained in the future.

by Robert Tonkli, Assistant Secretary Every year, the SDA works hard to ensure that members are able to get time off work to spend with their families on public holidays. Time off is your primary right on public holidays.

The SDA has continued to work hard to improve and protect members’ public holiday rights over many years.

Whether you have the day off or you choose to work, you should know your entitlements on public holidays.

Members covered by an Award, such as the General Retail Industry Award, have a reasonable right to refuse to work on a public holiday. Award employers also have a reasonable right to request that an employee work on the public holiday.

This is one of the ten National Employment Standards. Where a member wants to exercise a reasonable right to refuse to work on a public holiday, the following questions need to be considered: ď ľ

the nature of the work;

ď ľ

the employee’s personal circumstances, including family responsibilities;

ď ľ

whether the employee is entitled to receive penalties for work on the public holiday;

ď ľ

the amount of notice given by the employer;

ď ľ

the amount of notice given by the employee when refusing the request;

ď ľ

any other relevant matter.

ProtecĆ&#x;ng your right to not work on a public holiday The right not to work on public holidays ensures that SDA members are able to spend that time with family and friends away from work. This right ensures that members are given the same opportunity to participate in family or community events as other Australian workers.

Surveys continue to reflect the importance that members place on the choice not to have to work on a public holiday.

Most Collective Agreements negotiated by the SDA provide that work on a public holiday is strictly voluntary. This is a crucial benefit, secured for SDA members through the collective bargaining process.

Attempts by employers to remove or reduce this entitlement continue to be strenuously opposed.

PAGE 6 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

If you are covered by an Award and are unsure of your entitlements, or if your employer is refusing your request not to work on a public holiday, contact the SDA for advice and assistance.

Collective Agreements and Awards also protect members engaged on a permanent basis from a change to their regular roster simply to avoid a public holiday benefit.

Informing you of your rights Communicating with members about public holiday rights and entitlements is an important part of safeguarding our public holiday benefits.

Each year, the SDA publishes infomation that explains your public holiday entitlements.

If you haven’t seen a copy of the public holiday communication for the upcoming Christmas/ New Year period on your store noticeboard, a copy is available to members on the SDA website at www.sdansw.org.au.

Scan this code with your QR-enabled device to access copies of our guides to this Summer’s public holiday entitlements.

EMPNLOSW YEES

The SDA’s information centre is also available to members to answer your questions about public holidays.

Public Holidays over this Christmas/New Year season This year, Christmas Day falls on a Thursday, Boxing Day falls on a Friday, and New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday.

Full-time employees covered by an SDA Collective Agreement are generally entitled to the benefit of these public holidays, even where the actual public holiday does not form part of their roster. The same entitlement is provided to part-time employees who work an average of five starts per week, or whose alternating rostered day falls on the public holiday.

Our public holiday benefits cannot be taken for granted. Strong membership is the key to protecting and improving these benefits.

Season’s GreeĆ&#x;ngs Finally, I want to take this opportunity to wish you and all your family and friends a safe and relaxing break. I look forward to working hard in the year ahead to protect and improve our public holiday benefits.

Around the Shops... in Bankstown

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 7

your work health rights...

You have a right to priva

Work Health Rights are a union issue which affects the working conditions, pay and health and safety of SDA members.

The treatment of ill and injured workers was highlighted as part of the SDA’s 2014 Safety Demands Action week and the SDA will continue to raise awareness about this issue.

Work health rights checklist

by Jane Lui Workers’ Compensation Officer

The SDA is concerned about an increasing number of reports of employers trying to:  



! It is your choice as to which doctor

you see for your medical consultation/ examination. ! Your employer should not be present

in your private medical consultation with a doctor (whether they are a company doctor or your own doctor). If your employer asks or attempts to enter your consultation, you should tell them to leave, or tell the doctor you do not want them to be present. Remember that your medical consultation is a private and confidential appointment between you and the doctor only.

SDA members should be absolutely clear that you have the right to see your own doctor and not a doctor chosen by your employer if you are ill or injured; your employer has no right to attend your medical consultation/examination with you, or to have access to all your medical records and private health information.

If you are ill or suffering from the effects of an injury while at work and need to see a doctor, you have rights: 



! To protect your privacy in relation

to your employer gaining access to your personal health information, do not sign a medical information consent form without first seeking advice from the SDA. If you need advice or assistance or would like more information about any of the issues raised in this article, contact your SDA Delegate, Organiser or the Union office on 131 732.

PAGE 8 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

direct workers to certain doctors; be present during the medical consultation; and/or influence the medical treatment of ill and injured workers.



You have the right to choose your own treating doctor; You have the right to see your doctor in private, without your employer being present in your medical consultation/examination; and You have the right to privacy in relation to your personal health information and not signing away your rights to allow your employer to access your private health information.

Q: Which doctor should I see?

A: It’s your choice.

There have been far too many cases of SDA members being pressured into having their employer, often a management representative, make an appointment for them with a doctor of the employer’s choosing.

If you are ill or injured, it is your absolute right to choose the doctor whom you see.

If you have made a workers’ compensation claim, there may be instances where you can be directed to attend a specialist medical consultation or examination with a doctor who is not of your choosing. If you are ill or injured at work and need to make a claim for workers’ compensation, you should contact the SDA for advice, support and assistance.

Employer’s offer to drive you to a medical appointment If your employer offers to drive you from work or pick you up from your home to attend a medical appointment, it is your choice whether to accept the offer.

However, once you arrive at the medical office or clinic, your employer should not attend your actual medical consultation or examination with you. The doctor/patient relationship is a special relationship, and is subject to important confidentiality protections and ethical obligations which prevent your employer from being present during your consultation.

Appointments with doctors chosen by your employer The SDA recognises that some of our members may choose to accept their employer’s offer to make a medical appointment for them with a doctor selected and often paid for by the company.

SDA members need to be aware that agreeing to see a company doctor does not entitle your employer to attend the medical consultation or examination with you.

Employer a endance at medical consulta ons Employer attendance at medical consultations/ examinations is a breach of your privacy.

It is alarming for the SDA to hear about incidents of employers accompanying

vacy and choice of doctor SDA members to medical appointments and then seeking to be physically present in the consultation with the member and the doctor. As a result of these practices, ill and injured members have been placed in very stressful, distressing and inappropriate situations.

We have heard of instances where members have had to remove clothing for a medical examination in front of their manager, as well as some examples of where employers have sought to intervene in the medical practitioner’s diagnosis of their patient.

Medical consultations and examinations should be private and confidential and there is no valid reason for your employer to attend. This view is strongly backed by The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) in a Statement issued in September 2012: “The Fair Work Ombudsman does not condone or support this behaviour and sees no reason why an employer should seek to attend a private and confidential appointment with an employee, unless specifically requested to do so by the employee.

Proof of illness or injury When an employer considers personal/carers leave they may only request evidence that ‘would satisfy a reasonable person’ that the leave was taken because of an employee’s illness or injury.

Where an employee provides this evidence, which may be in the form of a medical certificate or statutory declaration, the employer must grant the request.

It is important for employers to respect their employee’s privacy and to only obtain evidence that is relevant to substantiate the absence.

The specific cause and nature of their absence is not necessary, except in unusual or exceptional circumstances.

Check your Enterprise Agreement.

It is important to check the Personal Leave clause in your Enterprise Agreement.

This clause sets out the notice and evidence requirements of your workplace when you are unable to attend work if ill or injured.

Agreements may have different requirements and obligations.

Many Enterprise Agreements negotiated by the SDA provide for some days each year where an employee is not required to provide evidence to claim personal/carers leave.

The Fair Work Ombudsman does not consider that it is reasonable for an employer to seek to attend a medical appointment with the employee for this purpose and views this as a breach of the employee’s privacy.

If your employer asks or attempts to enter the consultation/examination with you and the doctor, you should tell them to leave and report this to the Union.

Your medical records: Your private business If you are asked to complete and sign a ‘Medical Consent form’ to provide your employer with access to your medical records and information, do not sign it without seeking advice.

You may have an obligation to sign a ‘Medical Consent form’ in relation to workers’ compensation, however, you should seek advice from the SDA before signing, to ensure the information that is being sought by your employer is directly relevant to your workplace injury or illness claim.

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 9

It's time to splash out at...

SDA FAMILY DAY

on Sunday 22 February 2015 at Wet'n'Wild Sydney The SDA’s Family Day at Wet’n’Wild Sydney is a great day out for members and their families.

For this day only, SDA members, their families and friends are entitled to a special $35 admission price (that’s a whopping 56% off the normal adult’s price, and 40% off the normal child’s price). Plus, you can pre-order your lunch for the special price of $12.

With over 40 slides and attractions, including a whole zone dedicated to little water adventurers, and adrenalin-pumping action on some of the tallest and fastest water rides in the world, it’s so much more than a water park. So bring your swimmers and be ready to get wet!

PAGE 10 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

APPLICATION FOR SDA FAMILY DAY 2015 TICKETS Mail this form, along with your payment to: SDA Family Day 2015, PO Box K230, Haymarket NSW 1240 OR if you’re paying by credit card, you can fax this form to (02) 9281 7050, or scan and e-mail it to secretary@sdansw.asn.au

BY 6 FEBRUARY 2015 YOUR DETAILS Name: ...................................................................................................

SDA Membership Number: ..........................................................................

Address: ................................................................................................ ..................................................................................Postcode ..............

Phone:

Home ................................... Work ......................................

E-mail Address: .......................................................................................

Employer:

.........................................................................................

Suburb/Town .........................................................................

TICKETS AND PAYMENT I would like to order: [insert number] ...............tickets @ $35.00:

$...............................

[insert number] ...............lunch orders* @12.00

$...............................

Registered Post Charge:

$.............4.00 ............

Total:

$...............................

Cheque  Money Order  Credit Card [complete details below]

Payment Method:



Credit Card Type:



Mastercard



Visa

Card Number: ....................................... Expiry Date: .................................

Cardholder’s Name [please print]: ...............................................................

Cardholder’s Signature: ............................................................................. *You’ll get a choice of: beef burger, fries and soft drink; or chicken burger, fries and soft drink; or fish & chips and soft drink.

I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 11

BeĆŠer Agre

by Mitchell Worsley Industrial Officer

The SDA negotiates with a large number of companies to make Enterprise Agreements.

Enterprise Agreements are negotiated terms and conditions of employment within a company or organisation.

When negotiating an Agreement, the SDA acts as a representative of all of its members within a company to improve the terms and conditions for all employees covered by the Agreement.

Union vs Non-Union Agreements Agreements which have been negotiated by the Union have better outcomes for employees than non-union agreements in the same industry.

For example, wages, penalty rates, breaks and leave may be more generous in an SDA-negotiated Agreement than in a non-union agreement.

For most of our members, the SDA is actively involved in negotiating their terms and conditions. However, some of our members are covered by non-union agreements or are covered by an Award.

Your right to be represented The Fair Work Act gives unions the automatic right to represent its members in the bargaining process.

PAGE 12 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

reements with the SDA If you are a member of the SDA and you are in a workplace which does not have an Agreement with the Union, the SDA automatically has the right to represent you if your employer chooses to make an Agreement.

Most employees don’t want to attend a meeting with their employers to negotiate an Agreement - and that’s where the SDA can assist.

We will do the work of checking through the proposed terms and conditions and bargaining on your and your co-workers’ behalf.

In order to do this though, we need to know that an Agreement is in the process of being made.

Will my employer find out that I contacted the SDA?

If your membership is confidential, that is, if your employer doesn’t know you are a member of the SDA, they won’t know to advise us that they are making an Agreement.

The SDA can prove it is a bargaining representative without revealing who their member is (or members) to the employer, so your privacy is protected.

GeĆŤng the SDA involved Simply contact the SDA and let us know that your employer is seeking to make an Agreement.

Usually, the first you will hear of this is when you are issued with a Notice of Employee Representational Rights (NoERR). This form lets you know that you have the right to be represented.

No. Not if you don’t want them to.

Why involve the SDA?

+'* *+'* ! * ! & ) & ) ( & '( & ' %! '/ ! "#$ ' -.- " *+ ' ",! -., "

! "# $

% ! & '( "+! ,-+ " & " *) ., ! ()'* ()'/

Contact the SDA for beĆŠer wages and condiĆ&#x;ons It is in your best interests to let the SDA know if your employer is seeking to make an Agreement.

Agreements where the SDA is actively involved in negotiating on behalf of members result in better outcomes for all employees.

So if you see a notice posted in your workplace that your employer is making an Agreement, you receive a notice directly, or you hear about it, let us know as soon as possible and we will do what we do best – represent you and make sure your conditions at work are the best they can be.

Both you and your co-workers will benefit from the SDA negotiating with your employer.

For more information, contact the Union on 131 SDA (that’s 131 732).

The SDA will do its best to ensure that the wages and conditions for your workplace are fair, but this can only happen if we can negotiate with your employer from the outset.

Call nib now on

1800 13 14 63 and quote SDA

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 13

SPECIAL

SDA MEMBERS

OFFER

SAVE 20% ON SHOW TICKETS

26 MARCH - 8 APRIL 2015

Order by 13 March 2015

MAIL

I would like to purchase:

this completed form to SDA, PO Box K230, Haymarket NSW 1240

No. of adult tickets:

@ $31.60 (incl GST) each =

$

.

No. of child^ tickets:

@ $19.20 (incl GST) each =

$

.

@ $23.60 (incl GST) each =

$

.

PHONE

the SDA Union Office on 02 9281 7022, or

No. of concession* tickets:

ONLINE

visit www.sdansw.org.au and log in to the members-only section

^Child

I’m paying by:

Q Q

Cheque or money order payable to SDA, or Visa

Q

Credit card no:

MasterCard

includes children aged 4-15 years, and school children 16-18 years with a ROA School Pupil ID (Form 202) or School Transport Pass. Children aged 3 years and under have free admission. * Concession includes Fulltime tertiary students with transport ID; Pensioners; NSW Seniors Card holders; War Widow/ers withTransport ID

Children 3 and under: admission free!

Tickets will be sent via Registered Post unless collected from the Union Office reception.

Plus postage:

$

Total:

$

4.00 .

Please send my tickets to: Expiry Date:

/

Cardholder Name:

Name:

SDA Membership No:

Phone No:

Postal Address: Signature:

Email Address:

Information provided on this group booking form may be deemed ‘personal information’ as defined by the Privacy Laws. This information is collected for the purposes of processing and assessing your booking and recording this information for RAS, its agents and administrative purposes, archival purposes. The provision of this information is voluntary, however, if this information is not provided, SDA or its agents may not be able to process your booking or otherwise affect the purposes for which the information has been provided or collected. This information will not be used for any other purpose unless required by law. You have the right of access to and alteration of personal information concerning yourself in accordance with the Privacy Laws.

Authorised by Bernie Smith, Secretary-Treasurer, SDA NSW Branch, Level 3, 8 Quay Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Young Retail Worker of the Year

SDA NSW Assistant Secretary Robert Tonkli, SDA National President Joe de Bruyn, and SDA NSW Branch Secretary Bernie Smith present James with his Award.

The SDA believes that young workers deserve to be recognised for giving it their all in the workplace. That’s why this year we launched the very first Young Workmate of the Year Awards.

Our inaugural recipient of this award is James Townshend from Coles Kareela.

The awards are designed to give the quiet achievers, the hard-workers and the cheery, helpful faces around the workplace the recognition they deserve.

James was pretty chuffed to receive this award, saying, “Winning this award means a lot to me.

“It makes all of the late nights at work combined with the early mornings at uni worth doing. It makes all of the hard work put in worth it when I realised how many people supported me and also believed I deserved to be Young Workmate of the Year and helped me get so many people to vote for me.

“I support the SDA’s campaign because I have been at my job for four years – since I was 15.

In these years I have seen that I do the exact same work as the people who are getting the full adult wage and I think this is completely unfair.

“Wages should be based on how hard an employee works and not on how old they are.”

Hundreds of nominations were received as part of the competition, which was run through the 100% Pay at 18+ campaign website.

The awards were open to workers aged 25 years or younger who:  Give 100% at work;  Are great to work with;  Give their workmates 100% support; and  Make the workplace a better place.

The calibre of the nominees was incredible – there are some very dedicated young workers out there. It’s been fantastic to be able to celebrate their commitment to their workplaces with these awards.

Our younger workers are giving 100% in the workplace, but they’re often not given the recognition they deserve. This is our way of changing that.

A big congratulations and thank you to everyone who was nominated as part of the awards, and in particular a huge congratulations to James for taking out the title of the SDA NSW Branch’s first Young Workmate of the Year award.

James has won $500 prize money as part of the award.

To see the full list of award nominees, go to www.100percentpay.com.au/ywya/

REST Superannuation also sponsored a prize of an iPad mini for the runner-up, which went to Daniel Blake from IGA Gulgong, a small town near Dubbo.

Daniel is 19, and has worked in retail for five years.

He is now a Duty Manager and many times finds himself in charge of a store of 65 staff.

He finds it hard to believe that, with five years’ experience, he can be paid less than somebody who started last week and is only two years older than him.

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 15

Social Media at Work

by Felicity Smithson,



Don’t escalate the situation by replying;



Take a screenshot or print out a copy of what has been said;



Report them;



Record the time and date of incident;



Make sure your settings are set to Private;



Block the offender.

Senior Operations Officer

Social media and internet technology such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, e-mail and text messages should not be used to manipulate, intimidate or humiliate someone.

Some of the things people do – which they shouldn’t – are: 

Make threats or spread rumours about you or your family or friends;

If you are at all concerned about your safety, please make sure you contact your local police station.

How inappropriate use can affect people This sort of behaviour can affect people in many different ways such as: 

Stress, anxiety, fear;



Depression;



Tell lies about you;



Anger;



Tag you in inappropriate pictures;



Sleep deprivation;



Post comments about you or your friends or family which are not true.



Loss of appetite;



Nausea, vomiting;



Not wanting to go to work or school,

If someone does say something inappropriate online, please remember:

plus many more.

Most companies now provide a social media policy At the very least your company should promote guidelines for responsible use of Social Media and outline how offensive or discriminatory comments will be moderated and/or reported.

Ideally, your employer’s social media policy should include: 

A definition of social media;



A description of social media behaviour that is acceptable and unacceptable;



A statement that common sense and decency should dictate online conduct;



Clear directives about when and for how long workers may use social media sites at work (e.g. during breaks, lunch hours, anytime within reason, etc);



A prohibition on employees from saying or doing anything on social media that: – Could bring the company into disrepute,

WHY BOUNCE BETWEEN BANKS WHEN WE CAN BRING THE BEST DEAL TO YOU?

TO BOOK A MOBILE BANKER CALL 13 15 63 OR VISIT MEBANK.COM.AU/HOMELOANS *Interest rate is current as at 21/10/2014 and is subject to change. #Comparison Rate based on a loan of $150,000 for a term of 25 years. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Credit criteria, conditions, fees and charges apply. Members Equity Bank Limited ABN 56 070 887 679 Australian Credit Licence 229500.

PAGE 16 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

Some Helpful Tipss 





– Gives away your company's confidential information or the confidential information of anyone associated with the company,



– Could be considered derogatory or disparaging by colleagues or customers, or – Undermines workplace productivity. 

The law allows employers to regulate the conduct of employees on social media. It requires employees to be careful about what they post on their personal social media sites. In some circumstances, your company can terminate an employee because of the employee’s conduct on social media. Fair Work Australia has held that “it would be foolish of employees to think they may say as they wish on their Facebook pages with total immunity from any consequence”.





Everyone should be mindful of the posts they put or share on Facebook – it may one day save their job, a real friend’s job and/or eliminate someone from feeling bullied or harassed.

If you are experiencing any form of bullying or harassment, whether it be online or through social media, please don't hesitate to contact the SDA for advice. We are only a phone call away on 131 732.

If you know anyone that is suffering from depression, perhaps as a result of bullying and harassment, on or off social media, please encourage them to call: 

Helpline on 132 111 or 1800 21 2936,



Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (5 years – 25 years); or



Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.





Don’t threaten or harass fellow colleagues or managers or anyone else online.

Never spread rumours or personal information online. Even if you don’t mention the person by name, it can usually be found out who you are referring to.

Be careful you do not mention anything detrimental regarding work or a work colleague. Even if you haven’t listed your company in your profile, someone could still mention or say where you work.

Treat social network sites as a public forum – even if your status is set to “private”, anything you post can be seen by friends of your friends.

Anything you post is “in writing” and can’t be denied.

Anything you post online can be screenshot and spread quickly or end up in the wrong hands.

Let’s face it, not all your “friends” on Facebook may really be your friend. You may not actually know all your “friends”, and things can be passed on to friends’ friends and their friends, resulting in a never-ending cycle of information flow.

Never trick others into revealing private or embarrassing information and then post it online.

Never post photos of people accompanied by negative or derogatory comments.

These lines are open all day, every day!

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 17

PAGE 18 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

$16,000 for Breast Cancer Research

by Corrine Boyle Information Officer

In October, the SDA supported the pink ribbon cause with a major fundraising event in Lidcombe and several smaller events in members’ workplaces around the State. The Union also purchased pink ribbons for all Delegates to wear throughout the month.

The major event was our ninth annual charity golf day held at Carnarvon Golf Course. This day was supported by members, employers and SDA service providers. A big thank you to all our sponsors and raffle donors:

The Coles Goonellabah crew



SDA Newcastle Branch



REST Superannuation



Taylor & Scott Solicitors



Engaging Members



Chifley Financial Services



Ecolab



Woolworths Ltd



Plus two companies who requested to remain anonymous

After a morning of golf, participants enjoyed a buffet lunch followed by a relaxed chat with celebrity guests Wayne Pearce and Suzy Balogh, Athens 2004 Gold Medallist for women’s trap shooting. Suzy told the story of her own encounter with breast cancer in her family and thanked the SDA and others present for their support of research into prevention and cure.

A number of Delegates and members also organised events in workplaces throughout the month – pictured on this page are the crew at Coles in Goonellabah who raised over $700 in their store and talked their manager into participating too. Well done to everyone who made the effort and added to the tally. Overall $16,585 was raised throughout the month which will be handed over to the National Breast Cancer Foundation at around the time this edition of SDA News goes to print.

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 19

Delegates Deliver

Leading the wa

Delegates have continued to perform some outstanding work this year.

by Philippe LeCompte Education Officer

Apart from answering the many thousands of members’ questions, they have gathered signatures for our Take the Time and 100% Pay @ 18+ campaigns, have enforced entitlements and recruited new members – plus much, much more!

by Gerard Dwyer National Secretary

Superannuation is a long-term investment strategy, and all funds bounce around over shorter time frames, reflecting monthly movements in their investment markets.

What really matters is a fund’s performance over the long term,

and ensuring that it is competitive with returns being

Kelly’s hard work

achieved in the broader market.

Kelly Elphick from Big W Ballina River Rd, conducted a store audit and discovered that a number of casuals were not in the Union.

On 5 November this year, the Money section of The

She spoke to one of the young casuals and explained the benefits of the SDA – including not paying fees when you don’t work – and signed them up.

Sydney Morning Herald looked closely at the issue of superannuation investment performance over the longer term and the table below sets out their findings.

The casual then took four cards with her to talk to her mates who also worked at the store.

The first point to note in the table is the outstanding

Well done Kelly!!

past three-year period and first over the five- and seven-

Diane talks the talk

year timeframes. This is a fantastic performance by the

Long-time Priceline Liverpool Delegate, Diane Nguyen, was discussing cosmetics with three customers in her store.

Directors of REST and a tremendous outcome for the

She learnt that all three worked at a KFC in the area. Diane signed up all three into the Union as well as making cosmetic sales.

Now that’s awesome customer service!!

Lucky 13 Finally, Libby Hayden from Big W Dubbo, explained how an Associate working 21 hours per week returned from maternity leave to learn that she would only receive 16-18 hours per week.

Some of the hours were offered on days she couldn’t work!

After the Associate spoke to the SDA and got her local Organiser involved, the Associate got 21.5 hours on the days she wanted.

She was so pleased with the SDA’s help that she told all her workmates about the benefits of the SDA. Since then, Libby has recruited 13 new members. Terrific job Libby!!!

Thank you and best wishes for Christmas Thank you to all the Delegates who have attended training this year.

A special thank you to Helen de Vries for her outstanding effort as the Branch training support clerk.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and exciting New Year. I look forward to working with you all again next year.

PAGE 20 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

performance of REST which is ranked second over the

members of REST.

way in super funds The second point to note in the table is that Industry Funds like REST consistently outperform the retail products promoted by banks and large finance houses.

The top performers in the balanced fund league table are industry funds which over the past seven years have, on average, outperformed other fund models by 1.4%.

To achieve a financially secure retirement it is critical to maximise the performance of every superannuation dollar people put into their accounts.

What might look like a small under performance of 1% can mean a 20% reduction in your final account balance over a 30-year working life.

Superannuation really is a long-term investment and small differences are magnified over time.

The Australian superannuation sector is worth some $300 billion, and the banks

Two wins...

are determined to campaign for a bigger slice of this retirement savings pie.

However, it is the Industry Funds who are leading the way in superannuation returns for working Australians. Industry funds are wholly owned by the members of that fund, with all profits being returned to members’ accounts.

Banks and financial houses, on the other hand, have shareholders who need to receive dividends (ie. a portion of the profits) and these have to come out of the returns on your superannuation account.

Two years in a row

While the big banks and financial houses continue their campaign to get their hands on the superannuation savings of working Australians, it is worth remembering the key issue of fund performance over the long term as well as the fact that all the profits in an Industry Fund are shared amongst the funds’ members.

rest.com.au 1300 300 778 (8am-8pm weekdays)

Product issued by Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd. Call us on 1300 300 778 or visit rest.com.au for a REST PDS to consider if it is right for you. Awards and ratings are only one factor to consider when deciding how to invest your super.

RES5187SDA

Table from The Sydney Morning Herald Money Section, 5 November 2014, Page 2

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 21

P c D 2014 Picnic Day is an additional public holiday for full-time and parttime shop assistants in NSW, and falls on the first Tuesday in November, which is of course also Melbourne Cup Day. And what better way to celebrate than with a racing theme!

So once again, SDA members had a great day out at various events around the State.

SYDNEY

PAGE 22 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

COFFS HARBOUR

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 23

P c D 2014 ALBURY

PAGE 24 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

DUBBO

MURWILLUMBAH

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 25

Resign in haste; repent at leisure!

Some recent disputes have led me to remind members of the problems involved when “walking out” or leaving work without advising senior management of your decision.

by Athol Williams Organiser

Problems also arise when a member makes a hasty, or not fully considered, decision to resign their employment.

If you have an upsetting or stressful encounter at work which leaves you in a state of mind where you are unable to continue work for the duration of your shift, it is very important that you advise senior management of your situation and that you are seeking medical advice from a doctor of your choice.

Members are advised to consider carefully any immediate decision to offer a resignation while under stress, or are anxious due to any work-related or personal matter. Organisers and Industrial Officers are faced with a very difficult task, trying to negotiate a re-employment or reinstatement once a member has offered a resignation to their employer and is seeking to have it reversed.

Members seeking to resign their position should contact the SDA Information Centre (131 732) or speak to an SDA Organiser prior to mentioning anything to anyone at work.

On behalf of all of us in the Canberra office, I wish all members and their loved ones a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

Season’s Greetings!

PAGE 26 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

Worth your weig I would like to thank all my Delegates for their tireless contributions this year, especially those who have been outstanding in recruiting new members into the Union.

Seriously, I could not do my job as an

by Julie Myers Organiser without your help throughout Organiser the year. Through your work, the Union grew in my area this year, which is great for all those new members who now have the Union looking out for them and ready to be called on if needed.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I will see you in February for our annual meeting with Bernie in Canberra.

eight in gold

HSR Training

Anna McCamish and Helen Greer recently completed their Health & Safety Representative Training Courses. They’re shown here being presented with their certificates. Well done!

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 27

Having a family: for highly-paid A The Commission was effectively saying that, if you work in a minimum wage job, you either have to abandon any plans to have a family, or else you can just move back into your parents’ house.

by Michael Walker Communications Officer

The Fair Work Commission made this year’s annual decision on the minimum wages on 4 June.

This decision is closely watched to see the amount of the increase (this year 3%).

However, the decision also contained a small but very significant change of wage-setting policy in paragraph 38: The appropriate reference household for the purposes of setting minimum wages is the single person household, rather than the couple household with children.

With this statement, the Commission has turned its back on 107 years of wage-setting policy that had consistently held that the minimum wage should be enough to support a two-adult household with two children.

The Commission went on to say: The needs of the low paid are difficult to identify and to quantify, since many live in households with others.

Nearly all SDA members’ wages are set under Enterprise Agreements, so you are probably not directly impacted, but the Commission’s decision is still very unhelpful because the minimum wage flows through to the Awards which provide a bargaining base for our Agreements.

Low wages and cuts to welfare: something’s got to give Australia’s minimum wage works with our social security safety net to rebalance household incomes through tax concessions and the Family Tax Benefit (which incidentally was introduced in the 1980s after lobbying by the SDA).

The Federal Abbott Government has proposed a budget that slashes social security benefits.

Low-wage Australians are being caught in a pincer between Government policy and minimum wages that regard them as economic units of production, rather than people with normal goals, hopes and aspirations in life.

did you know...

Facebook and Apple recently introduced a policy that they would reimburse female employees for the cost of having their eggs frozen so that they could defer motherhood until well into their forties and thus not need to take time off work for maternity leave.

PAGE 28 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

A wage that supports a family is a human right!

The International Labor Organisation (ILO), part of the United Nations, has a convention on minimum wage setting that Australia agreed to in 1973. It states in Article 3: Elements to be taken into consideration in determining the level of minimum wages shall, so far as possible and in relation to national practice and conditions, include: (a) the needs of workers and their families, taking into account the general level of wages in the country, the cost of living, social security benefits, and the relative living standards of other social groups.

This reflects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 23(3) which also states: Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

Workers elsewhere are sƟll fighƟng for this Just as Australia’s living wage benchmark is being threatened by Government policy, it is making a comeback elsewhere around the world.

America’s minimum wage is ludicrously low at just $7.25/hour – less than half of Australia’s. The US Congress cannot reach agreement to raise it so campaigners are instead focused on raising the rate in individual states and cities.

San Francisco and Seattle have both recently adopted minimum wages of $15/ hour.

d Australians only?

The minimum wage in Britain is £6.50 but the living wage is £7.85 -and £9.15 in London!

There are also living wage campaigns underway in the UK and in New Zealand, painstakingly going city by city and company by company to convince councils and employers that paying people higher wages and treating them as people rather than production units is in everyone’s best interest, as higher-paid employees are more engaged and more productive.

There is also a living wage campaign across Asia called Asia Floor Wage. Its goal is to prevent the ‘race to the bottom’ by setting living wages for all of Asia’s low-cost manufacturing countries.

That is a lot of hard work. Australia is fortunate to have had a formal living wage for almost our entire history since Federation.

The result is that we are now one of the most prosperous nations in the world.

The Fair Work Commission’s decision to set minimum wages at a level appropriate for individuals rather than families, especially taken in combination with the Federal Government’s attacks on pensions and other tax concessions, could set us on a troubling path, right at a time when the rest of the world is coming to see the value of a formal living wage.

Australia should continue to pay its workers a living wage; we can afford it. ! Reference: ACCER Briefing Paper, After a

century the minimum wage system abandons families, 10 September 2014

SDA NEWS I SUMMER 2014 I PAGE 29

The Sydney Tower Eye

Madame Tussauds

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount on single adult and child entry tickets upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount on single adult and child entry tickets upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

t (02) 9333 9222 a sydneytowereye.com.au

t (02) 9333 9240 a madametussauds.com/sydney

WILD LIFE Sydney

Australian National Maritime Museum

Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount on single adult and child entry tickets upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount on single adult and child entry tickets upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

t (02) 8251 7800 a sydneyaquarium.com.au

t (02) 8251 7877 a manlysealifesanctuary.com.au

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast

Featherdale Wildlife Park, Doonside

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount on single adult and child entry tickets upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 20% discount upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 20% discount upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 25% discount upon presentation of their current SDA membership card.

t (02) 9333 9288 a wild-life.com.au

t (02) 9298 3777 a anmm.gov.au

t (07) 5534 1266 a cws.org.au

t (02) 9622 1644 a featherdale.com.au

Gold Coast Attractions

Please note:

SDA members and their families are entitled to a 15% discount at these leading Gold Coast attractions:

The Edge Cinema Katoomba no longer offers

Movieworld*

Seaworld*

a discount

t 133 FUN (133 386) a myfun.com.au

t 133 FUN (133 386) a myfun.com.au

specifically for SDA members.

com.au *Please note: you must pre-purchase your tickets though the SDA website to access the discounts on these attractions.

Discount New Cars is a unique online car buying service, offering discounted prices on a range of the most popular makes and models of new cars through a select group of authorised new car dealers throughout Australia. With over 600 new car franchise dealerships supporting their pre-negotiated offers, together with the friendly customer service team, Discount New Cars aims to provide exceptional advice, service and pricing for SDA members. = Discount New Cars allows you to price and build your next new car from over 36 different manufacturers. = View technical specifications, features, options, trade-in-prices, finance, insurance, as well as up-front drive away pricing. = Exclusive savings and specials for SDA Union Members updated monthly – beyond what is on offer to the general public. = FREE, No obligation enquiry.

With Discount New Cars also providing additional support for SDA members FREE of charge, visit www.discountnewcars.com.au/sda or speak with one of the Union Affiliation Representatives by calling toll free on 1800 146 666 to find out how much you can save today!

PAGE 30 l SUMMER 2014 l SDA NEWS

Wet’n’Wild Dreamworld White Water Skypoint Water World* t (07) 5588 1111 World (07) t 5582 2700 (07) 5588 1111 t dreamworld. t 133 FUN a a skypoint. com.au com.au a whitewaterworld. a myfun.com.au

Europcar Rentals SDA members receive exclusive rates when they rent with Europcar. Simply quote 47699503 when making your booking. No PIN or Velocity number is required. For more information, phone Europcar on 1300 131 390 or go to europcar.com.au.

Coffs Harbour Driving School Get five one-hour lessons for just $275 – that’s a saving of $5 per lesson.

Phone (02) 6652 1096 and speak to Julian or Kaye for more information.

ABC Driving School SDA members and their children receive $25 off the standard cost of five lessons with ABC Driving School. For more information, go to abcdrivingschool.com.au or see the White Pages for your nearest branch.

Offer valid to 30 June 2015

SDA Members can...

r e m m u s r e SDA sup 1.

2.

3.

4.

crossword 5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Everyone loves going to the movies!

And thanks to the SDA’s Discount Movie Tickets scheme, financial members of the Union can go to the movies for as little as $10.50 for adults and $8.00 for children* at these cinemas:

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

29.

27.

28.

30.

+ Hoyts and Palace; + Events, Village and Birch Carroll

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

42.

45.

49.

50.

39.

40.

41.

43.

44.

51.

52.

Go to the Movies at Discounted Prices!

46.

53.

47.

54.

48.

+ + + + +

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

64.

65.

66.

63.

67.

68.

across 1. Your manager cannot enter ____ (7, 12) with you - they are private.

11. Union’s Right of ____ (5) is a clause commonly inserted into Agreements.

12. You should always look ____ (4) and tidy at work.

13. The ____ (4) is on your employer to provide a safe workplace.

15. The ____ (3 - initials) is a Federal Government policy on renewable energy which is currently under review.

16. The SDA represents members in the ____ (6) sector.

17. The SDA offers its members ____ (5) discounts on entertainment, dining and much more!

18. Don’t sit on the ____ (5); join the SDA! 19. People sometimes take a ____ (4) at leadership in political parties.

20. It’s not a good idea to look ____ (5) in a job interview.

21. The ____ (4 - initials) has gotten a few politicians into trouble in NSW. 22. ____ (4, 4) workers are often young.

25. Most SDA members are covered by an ____ (3 - initials).

27. ____ (4) is a manufacturing company with SDA membership.

28. Standing together can also be called standing in _____ (5) 29. We all pay the Medicare ____ (4) to ensure fair health care for everyone.

31. “There are not enough staff” is no excuse for your employer to not give you your ____ (5).

32. Many people have ____ (4) the day that they did not join the SDA. 33. The union movement across the world continues to call for a ____6) wage.

34. Your Union (3 - initials).

35. ____ (5) can be forced to work unpaid overtime.

71.

36. An ____ (3 - initials) is another name for an individual contract, abolished under the previous Labor Government.

38. The ____ (3 - initials) oversees Federal elections.

40. In NSW, only some shops can ____ (4) on public holidays.

42. Paid Parental Leave was an ____ (7) of many of the SDA’s Agreements, long before the Government introduced it.

45. Our ____ (4, 3, 4) campaign aims for better work/life balance.

47. Every year, we offer ____ (4 - initials) to help tertiary students with their expenses.

49. The SDA sends out a Services and ____ (8) booklet to all members annually.

53. ____ (13) and thanks are extended to our Delegates for their fine work over the year.

56. It is voluntary for most members to work ____ (2) public holidays.

57. ____ (7) is often used by drivers to attract attention.

58. ____ (9) Day is always a public holiday.

61. ____ (4) workplaces can be a health risk.

62. The ____ (3 - initials) issued a statement in 2013 regarding workers’ privacy at doctors consultations.

64. You should not harass ____ (6) in the workplace or online.

66. ____ (7) is one of the countries offered as a destination for SDA/AFS scholarship winners.

67. Some retailers are trying to ____ (6) or reduce various entitlements.

69. If you’re not an SDA member, you’re on your own if you get into a ____ (3) 70. You should always wear suitable ____ (6) at work.

71. SDA members get a special discount on tickets for the Easter ____ (4)

72.

72. If your employer collects your SDA fees, they must ____ (5) them to the Union.

down 1 _____ (9) are a vital part of the Union.

2. Penalty rates are there to _____ (10) employees for working unsociable hours.

3. You must always be paid when you work _____ (8).

4. Bernie _____ (5) is your Branch Secretary.

5. If you work on a public holiday, you’re entitled to _____ (7, 5).

6. Bullying is unacceptable, whether it is _____ (11) or not.

7. _____ (13) is a sector covered by the SDA. 8. The ____ (3 - initials) is a set of minimum standards for workers, introduced by the former Labor Federal Government.

9. Gerard Dwyer is the new National ____ (9).

10. The SDA provides a wide ____ (5) of industrial services to its members.

14. You should take sick leave if you are ____ (3).

23. The SDA works hard to make sure your workplace conditions are ____ (4) and just.

24. SDA News used to be described as “the official ____ (5)” of the Union.

25. Time off in lieu often requires mutual ____ (9) between employee and employer.

30. Many Agreements negotiated by the SDA now contain family ____ (8) leave.

31. Many governments and employers would like to ____ (3) strikes over pay and conditions.

36. Over the past few years, the SDA has faced (and defended) a constant ____ (6) on workers’ entitlements by some retailer groups.

To Purchase your SDA Movie Tickets... + order online – sdansw.org.au, + phone the SDA on 131 SDA

69.

70.

& Coyle; Reading; IMAX Darling Harbour; Dendy; Chauvel; and Independent cinemas in Ballina, Batemans Bay, Byron Bay, Glenbrook, Griffith, Inverell, Manly, Merimbula, Nambucca Heads, Narooma, Port Macquarie, Randwick, Taree, Tuggeranong, Tuncurry, Ulladulla, Warrawong, and Yamba.

39. The SDA’s 100% Pay at 18+ ____ (8) has received a great deal of support from workers of all age groups.

40. Breaks are not ____ (8); you must be given them when they are due.

41. After a hard day’s work, many of us would like to take a ____ (3).

43. It’s the time of year when ____ (4) needs to be taken into consideration at work.

44. It’s also the time of year when we get many ____ (6) holidays!

46. One of the SDA’s major aims is to get equal pay for ____ (8) year olds.

48. SDA members should be ____ (10) clear; they have the right to choose their own doctor.

50. The SDA has ____ (6) 210,000 members nationally.

51. Your 2015 SDA Calendar Card ____ (4) neatly into your wallet or pocket.

52. Don’t be a ____ (8); introduce yourself to your Delegate!

54. Some customers can be a bit ____ (5).

55. If you wear a ____ (7), you can often claim the cost of washing it in your tax return.

59. You can use the SDA’s discount program to ____ (5) yourself at special prices.

60. ____ (5) Townshend is our inaugural Young Workmate of the Year.

63. To join the SDA, all you have to do is fill in a membership application ____ (4).

65. It is ____ (3) a good idea to post negative remarks about your employer on social media.

68. A meal break gives you a chance to ____ (3), drink and unwind.

(131 732) with your credit card details, + purchase them in person at the SDA Sydney Office between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Saturday (except on public holidays).

Ticket Prices* + Events**, Village and Birch

+ + + +

Carroll & Coyle: Adult $10.50^/Child $8.00^ Hoyts**: Adult $11.50/Child $9.00 Reading: Adult $11.00/Child $11.00 IMAX: Adult $13.25/Child $13.25 Dendy, Chauvel, Majestic, and selected Independent cinemas: Adult $11.25/Child $11.25

Please note: All tickets are issued with an expiry date. *Prices are subject to change without notice. +Children’s tickets only available at Hoyts (valid for children aged 4-15 years), Village, Events, and Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas (valid for children aged 4-14 years). **Events (formerly Greater Union) and Hoyts vouchers are not valid for sessions after Saturdays at 5pm, VMAX, Gold Class, 3D/Real D, group bookings, movie marathons and special events or in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. ^From 1 July 2014

Do you have a family member working a summer job in retail or fast food?

Let them know about the benefits of being an SDA member: 1. Better rates of pay and working conditions 2. Help with any issues in the workplace 3. Many exclusive member benefits and savings They can enquire about joining through our website at

sdansw.org.au or by calling

131 SDA (131 732)

14100