THE SDA
Union obsessed with power, not its members
How can former ACTU secretary Bill Kelty say the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Union believes in social justice (Good Weekend, 3/9)? For more than a decade the union has been doing sweetheart deals with major retailers and fast food outlets. This has left many workers being paid below-award rates, with no penalty rates, in a largely casualised workforce. The SDA must have a warped sense of social justice.
How many of these workers, who are predominantly female, receive wages that cover their rent/mortgage and bills, or to put away for their retirement? Many of us have family and friends who work in retail. Some have been working as casuals for years and want to be made permanent, which would mean they get sick leave and holiday entitlements. But they have had no success or any help from the shoppies. I challenge union officials and SDA-affiliated MPs to work under the same wages and conditions. Most have not stepped on to the shop floor, except perhaps to do their shopping.
![Illustration: Cathy Wilcox](/web/20160908041711im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/8/g/y/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gr8915.png/1473037990879.png)
I also do not know many retail workers, some of whom are LGBT, who have been asked if they agree with the views of national secretary Joe de Bruyn (above) against same-sex marriage. The SDA is more concerned about having a huge membership base so it can wield power over Labor and the ACTU and pursue its own agenda against same-sex marriage. If only it pursued better conditions for workers as vigorously.
George Georgiou, Pascoe Vale
Putting workers' rights and conditions first
Yes, one can ask why should the SDA push the view of its leadership on moral/social issues when it does not necessarily represent the views of its members. One should also ask why should any union give money to a political party or campaign for same-sex marriage or any other social issue when its members have not been asked their opinion. And it should not be a matter of majority vote within a union. If workers join a union, their money should be spent improving their work conditions, not used for political or social campaigns.
I worked for the SDA from 1975 to 1978. At that time it was not affiliated with the Labor Party and had no influence. Just after I left, moderates in the ALP did a deal to bring the SDA into the party to combat the power of the left factions and to get access to the union's huge financial resources. So the ALP only has itself to blame for the influence the SDA has. There is no doubt the National Civic Council had great influence in the SDA when I worked there, despite none of us having official membership of the NCC. Since then, it has imploded and no longer has any influence in the SDA.
Barry Kearney, Ringwood North
After 15years, I've said 'enough' to the SDA
What a great article on the shoppies' union. This is the exact reason I have resigned my membership after 15 years. I fear this archaic union does not have my best interests at heart.
Karen Evans, Sunbury
Unions and parties ignore the battlers
In trying to balance the budget, the government is targeting the less well off, while defending the banks and watering down contributions that the well-off could make. At the same time, ordinary workers are being short-changed through agreements brokered by their employers and the SDA. Labor, while salivating at the idea of a royal commission into banks, is silent on workers being underpaid. Politicians talk about moral obligations as well as fair and just conditions for workers but, in reality, they are protecting their tribal backers.
Peter Soucek, Mount Evelyn
Support young workers
Wage fraud is not limited to franchisees with enterprise agreements. The award rates are disregarded by many cafes, including some of Melbourne's most profitable coffee roasters. Many young workers do not earn more than $15 to $18 an hour, yet under the award we are entitled to more than $22 on weekdays and $28 on weekends. Consumers must demand proper treatment for cafe staff and boycott those employers who are pocketing the wages of their vulnerable employees' wages. Before you buy a coffee, ask if staff are are being paid the minimum wage.
Jacob Kairouz, Brunswick
Where are the Syrians?
Tim Costello's article, "Syrian children suffer" (Opinion, 2/9), was compelling. I have the privilege of teaching in the antenatal clinic at a busy hospital. For many years I have assisted dedicated medical teams cope with the language and cultural issues facing newly arrived migrants and refugees. Over 28 years, I have met an estimated 8500 patients from more than 120 nations, many from war-torn countries. I am still waiting to meet anyone from Syria. I receive many offers of material and financial assistance for "the Syrians" and I am ashamed to respond, "I am still waiting". When will the promised and desperate refugees from Syria arrive here to receive our help?
Maggie Lynch, Brighton
Pain of being judged
Thank you, Anthony Albanese (The Age, 2/9). A plebiscite on marriage equality will result in families which do not fit the traditional model being judged. My children will hear judgments, both positive and negative, made about their family. Just having the discussion at all gives the idea that the existence of their loving family is something that might not be right. Some people who say no to marriage equality think they are protecting families. What they are doing is causing hurt to families which already exist. How can that be OK?
Ange Mackie, Coburg
Settle down, children
John Cummings asks why do our politicians "behave in such an appalling way in parliament"? (Letters, 3/9).
On my first day as a parliamentary officer with the Victorian parliament in 1983, the clerk of the parliaments told me that the most appropriate qualification for working there was in early childhood development. Before the end of my first week, I understood why. Despite several reforms of procedures and MPs' conduct, and greater media and public scrutiny (and despair), it seems little has changed in our parliaments, given the continuing appalling behaviour of some of our elected representatives.
David Ali, Northcote
Boss must bear blame
After the census fiasco, the Prime Minister declared that "heads will roll" Then he "read the riot act" to Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Social Services Minister Christian Porter and Justice Minister Michael Keenan for their "complacency" in departing parliament early last Thursday. Many people will be wondering where the buck should stop.
Stephen McNamara, Newtown
MPs' shameful no show
Those of our federal representatives who wagged parliament on Thursday surely have an apology to make to their electorates. Malcolm Turnbull may say they have been shamed and so on, but their duty is to us the electorate, and on that count they went missing. They simply deserted, went AWOL. And the electorate pays their keep.
Marguerite Heppell, Hawthorn East
So, what has changed?
Like them or not, tactics are part and parcel of Australian parliaments, particularly when it comes to slim majorities. In Victoria's early 20thcentury parliament, Friday was known as "pot boilers day". Rural MPs tended to vacate the house on Thursday afternoons to travel to their electorates, leaving the metropolitan-based MPs to sit around a virtual camp fire on Fridays. A gentlemen's agreement dictated that only uncontroversial issues were dealt with on Fridays. When clever manoeuvring successfully ignored that convention, protests claiming "foul play" fell on deaf ears, just as they did in federal parliament last week. That's tactics.
Madonna Grehan, Thornbury
Rogerson's lack of craft
A few years ago while I was holidaying in a country town, I purchased a cheese board in an op shop. On further inspection I discovered it was made by crooked cop Roger Rogerson, presumably whilst he was incarcerated in jail. Seeing as he is now back in the slammer ("Life sentence for Roger Rogerson", 3/9), will he be making any more cheese boards as the last one fell apart? If so, where can I get one?
Carol Wilson, Wantirna South
You little beauty
What a joy that the women's Aussie Rules match was televised on Saturday evening. It was a watershed moment. It was also great to watch football as it was 30years ago – players playing more or less to position, free-flowing, no flooding and no sight of the endless stoppages that we have had to endure in recent times. We saw plenty of physicality, but without any spiteful aggression. May the women continue to show the way. I am looking forward to real footy in 2017. As Western Bulldogs captain for the game, Steph Chiocci, said, "it's going to be a ripper".
Lance Williams, Upotipotpon
Our economic disaster
I am a distraught taxi-licence holder whose family will be decimated by this so-called compensation scheme now that the Victorian government plans to legalise ride-sharing services such as Uber. Our family and many others in my situation will be left with overwhelming debt. How is that the "even playing field" the government is ostensibly seeking to create? We simply ask to be compensated fairly for a state-regulated asset we invested in that will be wiped out with one pen stroke.
We cannot understand why we are being punished for simply working hard and paying our associated fees and taxes. The government needs to see the faces of the people it is hurting. We will continue to rally against these reforms outside parliament house until there is a fair outcome.
Yota Dimopoulos, Bentleigh East
Selling off Australia
The Prime Minister talks a good game when it comes to Australia's prospects via the mantra "innovation". Yet house prices in Sydney and Melbourne are at their most unaffordable levels historically. As interest rates have been lowered, house prices have inversely risen. One can only assume asset bubbles do not concern the Reserve Bank.
Furthermore the government has decided not to appoint a minister for housing. One wonders how it is fathomable to achieve this so called epoch of innovation. Where will it come from? For surely the youth will have migrated to more fruitful pastures. My bet concerning the reality of Australia's future is one where the country is to be sold off to the highest bidder. All whilst our politicians were napping in parliament.
Damien Peters, Brighton
Dan is the man
Regarding the latest poll which found Matthew Guy is now leading Daniel Andrews 51 to 49per cent as preferred premier (Saturday Age, 3/9). I would like to ask one question: why is the Age continually trying to discredit Mr Andrews? In my opinion he is the one premier in recent history who has actually tackled difficult projects. He should be praised, not pilloried.
Judy Witney, Lardner
Go green, Ms Garrett
Brunswick MP and former Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett says she is not going anywhere. She loves her job. And she is finalising a complaint of bullying and harassment against the head of the United Firefighters Union. Good for her. As a long-time Labour voter, I reckon that if she ran as the Greens candidate in Brunswick at the next election, she would romp it home.
Michael Petit, Brunswick
It sounds so familiar...
In announcing yet another wishy-washy inquiry into the behaviour of banks, Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer dismissed calls for a royal commission as it "would only go over old ground" (Saturday Age, 3/9). Isn't that what the royal commission into the home insulation (pink batts) scheme did?
Ray Pilbeam, Canterbury
Too late for conscripts
Regarding prosecuting people who want to participate in foreign wars, I wish that had been around in the 1960s and the 1970s when conscription sent nice people off to foreign wars – for example, Vietnam – to kill or be killed.
Michael Monk, Maldon
All power to the U3A
As a very senior citizen, aged 93, I am finding the University of the Third Age a wonderful (and amazingly inexpensive) source of knowledge and, indeed, wisdom. In fact, with ready answers to problems on so many subjects imparted by experienced teachers and leaders, I feel that I may be undergoing a renaissance. I would now define myself as a born-again question.
Monty Maizels, Kilsyth
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Maybe Cory Bernardi's push to allow insults and offence was inspired by debate on the marriage plebiscite.
Wendy Knight, Little River
On the first day of spring, the government was sprung. Exciting times indeed.
Jim McLeod, Sale
I hope the three missing MPs paid for their flights as they left their workplace without permission.
Peter Fahl, Rosebud
Let's hope Peter Dutton's absence last Thursday foreshadows something more permanent.
Cath Dyson, Mount Eliza
Is seems that Dutton does not like being cooped up for too long.
Gerry Lonergan, Reservoir
Can't lead, can't govern and, apparently, can't count.
Philip Bunn, Beechworth
A tricky Labor stunt shows up our work-shy pollies. Shame, Canberra.
Linda Mackie, Collingwood
Televised parliament: what a cast, what plots, what performances, what hams.
Doug Perry, Mount Martha
Chinese Communists bearing gifts? It looks like we're back to reds under the beds. I feel young again.
Anthea Hyslop, Eltham
Ban all political donations. The current system reeks of corruption.
Grant Nichol, Ringwood North
AFL
Real footy, kicking and marking. Thanks to our Legends, and the girls from Melbourne and Footscray.
Roger Stone, Point Lonsdale
A lesson for AFL teams: play like a girl if you want to win. I loved the match between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
Lorraine Ryan, Templestowe
We may have lost Cloke but we at least have Hope. And she is kicking goals. Go girl and go Pies.
Philip West, Jan Juc