Members of Australia’s largest trade union, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union (SDA) have rejected claims by the union’s national secretary, Joe de Bruyn, that gay marriage will be politically disastrous for the Gillard Government.
SDA Members for Equality have called on Mr de Bruyn to survey his membership on the issue and will be campaigning to change the SDA’s policy of opposition to marriage equality.
SDA Members for Equality spokeperson Duncan Hart said Mr de Bruyn’s comments are particularly hurtful to many of the gay and lesbian members of the SDA.
‘The SDA membership have never been consulted on the issue of marriage equality, yet Mr De Bruyn seems to be on a personal crusade to stop equal rights for same-sex couples,’ Hart said.
He said that the SDA leadership was ‘out of step’ with its members on the issue, pointing to a Galaxy Poll last year which found that 80 per cent of young Australians support marriage equality.
‘Polls show that a majority of Australians support marriage equality and young people are the strongest supporters. It stands to reason that the SDA membership, which is largely young people, would also support marriage equality.’
‘But Joe de Bruyn refuses to listen to his members on this issue. He continually uses his position to push an anti-equality agenda.’
‘It’s time that Mr De Bruyn actually consulted and represented his membership on this issue rather than the personal views of Joe de Bruyn.’
Benn Dorrington
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