Members regularly contact the SDA to find out details relating to their wages and working conditions. Whether it is a question about your hourly rate of pay, or advice on dealing with your manager, our Information Officers are able to assist you.

You can contact the SDA confidential member's help line 131 SDA (131 732)

• Between  8.00am AND 5.30am Monday to Friday and 

•   from 8.30am to 5.00pm on Saturdays (EXCEPT ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS).

When calling, please provide your SDA membership number – check your SDA membership card for your number.

As an employee, your work-related legal entitlements are set down in various Awards, Agreements and Acts of Parliament. These entitlements include sick leave, penalty rates, wages, overtime and annual leave.

The SDA can advise you on your entitlements and, if necessary, help you to obtain them from your employer, whether you are full-time, part-time or casual.

Disputes with your employer need not cost you your job. If you have been unfairly treated, the SDA will take up your case for you and go to the independent umpire, the Fair Work Commission, free of charge if necessary.

For more information, contact your workplace Delegate, Union Organiser or the SDA info Centre.

The SDA is involved on an ongoing basis in the improvement of the wages and working conditions of our members.

Through enterprise bargaining, the Union secures new and improved rates of pay, allowances, leave entitlements and various other work conditions for SDA members.

SDA MEMBERS: You can obtain copies of your Enterprise Agreement, Award or pay rates through the Union. You can access the information over the phone, through InfoNet or by speaking to the Union Delegate at your workplace.

If a new Enterprise Agreement is being negotiated in your workplace, updates will be posted on the Union noticeboard in your store and in the InfoNet section of the SDA website.

For more information about enterprise bargaining, members can contact their workplace Delegate, Union Organiser or the SDA Info Centre

The SDA has a free legal referral service that provides members with advice from qualified solicitors.

Most people need legal assistance at some stage, and the SDA can help to minimise costs by referring members to one of our network of preferred solicitors in Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra and most regional centres in New South Wales. SDA-preferred solicitors can assist you with any legal problem, including home insurance claims, house transfers, consumer rights and wills, probate and estates.

SDA MEMBERS: Most SDA-preferred legal firms offer one free consultation with their solicitors on any legal matter not related to work. Special discounted fees are applied to such personal legal matters which involve more than one consultation. To make an appointment with a solicitor in your area, contact your SDA Delegate , SDA Organiser, your regional SDA office or the SDA Info Centre 131 732.

If you suffer an injury or disease which is caused, aggravated, exacerbated or accelerated by the work you do, the workers’ compensation system providesbenefits to compensate for the injury or illness. Workers’ compensation benefits are available to all employees whether they are full-timers, part-timers or  casuals, managers or trainees.

Under no circumstances should you accept allegations that you are not entitled to workers’ compensation for one reason or another. Laws relating to workers’ compensation are very complicated. At no cost to members, the SDA’s experts can help you make and process your workers’ compensation claim.

SDA MEMBERS: You are entitled to free workers’ compensation support and advice.

For more information about workers’ compensation, members can contact their workplace Delegate, Union Organiser or the SDA Info Centre

The SDA is committed to actively seeking improvements in the industrial, social, and economic conditions of women.

SDA MEMBERS: The Union can provide you with confidential advice on matters like equal employment, maternity leave, family leave, protective legislation and sexual harassment.

For more information about the Women’s Bureau, speak to your workplace Delegate or Union Organiser, or contact the SDA Info Centre.