Firstly, it is the centenary year of the SDA’s registration as a union under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. We look back proudly on 100 years work for union members. We also look back on the growth and development of the SDA and its services to the members. I hope you have enjoyed the segments in the Journal this year tracing the history of the SDA. However we do not only look back on our history. We also look forward to the future – to build and develop the SDA going forward and to continue extending services to our members.

Secondly, 2008 is the year in which the Rudd Labor Government abolished Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) – individual contracts which slash wages and conditions. The Howard Liberal Government first introduced them in 1996 and they were used to slash wages and conditions from that date. Under WorkChoices, AWAs were made even worse and it became easier to slash wages and conditions. After twelve long years we have finally seen them abolished. This is the first down payment on the successful Know Your Rights at Work campaign run by the union movement in which so many of you participated.

Thirdly, 2008 is the year in which the State Government passed legislation to permanently provide for additional public holidays when Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fall on a weekend so that the actual day is a public holiday and the following Monday (or Tuesday, as appropriate) is an additional public holiday. It has taken many years of campaigning by the SDA to achieve this.

Fourthly, 2008 is the year in which the Rudd Labor Government has introduced its substantive industrial relations bill to abolish WorkChoices. The work our members have done in the ACTU’s Your Rights At Work campaign has contributed significantly to this victory. We need to make clear to the Liberal and National Parties and the independent Senators that this legislation must be passed in the Senate. If necessary we will campaign right through to the next election to see the WorkChoices legislation thrown out.

Fifthly, 2008 has been a big year for the SDA as we work to protect and improve the wages and conditions of SDA members in the major task of award modernisation in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and in re-negotiating enterprise agreements as they fall due.

Next year is a transition year to a new industrial relations system due to commence on 1 January 2010.

It is also a very uncertain year as the world economic crisis continues.

On behalf of the Officers and State Council I would like to thank the Organisers and all the staff of the SDA for their hard work over 2008.

I would like to thank more than a thousand Delegates and Health & Safety Representatives and Deputy Health & Safety Representatives for their hard work on behalf of members over 2008.

I would like to congratulate all SDA members who participated in the Your Rights At Work campaign – a campaign which is now delivering successful outcomes.

I wish all members and staff a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Michael Donovan, State Secetary