SDA

The SDA is a registered Industrial Union of employees promoting the interests and defending the rights of our members in the retail, fast food and warehousing industries. In Queensland, the SDA has been active since 1889 when a group of 16 draper's assistants met in Brisbane to discuss the formation of an "Early Closing Association". Since then, we have grown to become Australia's largest Union covering every aspect of the retail industry. We give employees confidence and strength when negotiating with an employer, providing the strength in unity that can't be achieved individually. We represent our members in negotiations for better wages and conditions, by protecting members against unfair treatment and providing support through a wide range of services from legal advice and workers compensation support through to arranging a huge variety of discounts. We are staffed by dedicated officials, experienced in dealing with management at the highest level and most of our employees have worked in retail. Improvements to workplace conditions do not 'just happen'. They occur only because the SDA presents well researched arguments and negotiates with employers in good faith. The services outlined below, as well as all other benefits of the Union, are for SDA members only.