INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The SDA recognises the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and continues our to help protect our members from violence at work.

Women make a up a significant portion of workers across retail, fast food and warehousing.

It is a sad reality that workers are regularly subjected to violence and abuse at work.

Violence and abuse can be physical, verbal or sexual in nature and impacts the overall health and wellbeing of our members whether they are at work or not. It can be perpetrated by a customer, a manager or a co-worker.

The SDA has developed and prioritised pioneering campaigns to combat violence and abuse experienced by our members and promoting prevention strategies to eliminate its occurrence in the retail, fast food and warehousing industries.

The SDA, in collaboration with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), recently launched a report on our survey into the prevalence of sexual harassment in retail, fast food and warehousing.

This comprehensive survey into the frequency, nature and reporting of sexual harassment of retail, fast food and warehousing workers has revealed that female workers and younger workers, often in their first jobs, are particularly at risk.

According to the report, 46% of female SDA members have been sexually harassed in the workplace compared to 29% of male SDA members.

1 in 3 women have experienced workplace sexual harassment in the last 12 months.

More than half (57%) of female members aged 18 – 29 years and 51% aged under 18 years experienced sexual harassment in the last five years

This is unacceptable and it must be stopped. That’s why the SDA is using this research to call on employers and industry to take action.

The SDA also recognises how it can help women suffering from violence outside of work.

Family and domestic violence is a workplace issue that can have an impact on an employee’s work, their safety and the safety of their co-workers.

By negotiating for paid leave and other rights and entitlements, workers experiencing family and domestic violence have the employment and financial security necessary to deal to give them the freedom to make decisions and leave if that’s what they choose to do.

The SDA has successfully negotiated paid family and domestic violence leave in many Enterprise Agreements and unions achieved unpaid leave in Awards, which has now been extended into the National Employment Standards (NES). The SDA continues to push for paid leave in the NES.

The SDA also supports community efforts to help find solutions to address family and domestic violence and ensure those currently in place are effective.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) represented the SDA, and other Australian unions, during the International Labour Organisations (ILO) convention against ‘violence and harassment in the world of work’.

The ILO adopted a convention and recommendations which sets a new international standard to combat violence and harassment at work.

This convention is important to the SDA’s ongoing work to address both customer abuse and violence, and sexual harassment in the retail, fast food and warehouse industries.

It will help inform better policies and practices internationally right through to the shop floor.

The Convention will become effective 12 months after two member States have ratified it. The Recommendation, which is not legally binding, provides guidelines on how the Convention could be applied.

The SDA calls on the federal government to commit to eliminate harassment and violence facing Australian workers by ratifying the convention and ensure that the necessary changes and improvements provided in the convention and recommendations are properly implemented and funded.

The SDA is here to provide our members in retail, fast food and warehousing advice, support and information about your work. And we can help if something goes wrong by making sure you know your rights and are represented at work.

It’s also important to know that when it comes to your mental health, where you can go to access professional help.

The list below are useful resources.

USEFUL RESOURCES

Lifeline
Ph: 13 11 14
Website: www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue
Ph: 1300 22 4636
Website: www.beyondblue.org.au

Kids Helpline
Ph: 1800 55 1800
Website: www.kidshelpline.com.au

The National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service
Ph: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Website: www.1800respect.org.au

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