DAVID JONES' RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGES HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED OPPOSITION FROM RETAIL UNION

"The SDA is in the very embarrassing position of denying the rights of the workers it represents while an employer is recognising these rights."
Alex Greenwich, National Convener, AME

David Jones has become the latest major Australian employer to recognise the same-sex marriages of its employees, despite continued opposition to marriage equality from the union representing a large number of its employees.  The CEO of David Jones, Paul Zahra, this morning confirmed David Jones’ policy saying, “David Jones does recognise a diverse workforce and this includes same-sex marriages...Our HR policies and procedures are applied universally and are inclusive of all employees”.

The union that represents many David Jones employees, the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association or SDA, which has a seat on the Labor Party National Executive, has been an outspoken opponent of marriage equality.

In November SDA National Secretary, Joe de Bruyn, said, "we all know that marriage is between a man and a woman not just because that is what the definition of the Marriage Act says but simply because this has been the way that it has been in the existence of the human race."

National Convener of Australian Marriage Equality, Alex Greenwich, welcomed David Jones' decision.

“DJ's is showing respect to the company's gay and lesbian staff who have gone to the trouble of marrying overseas."

"It's stance is also a direct challenge to a union that is set to use their votes at the ALP National Conference to block the rights of its members."

"The SDA is in the very embarrassing position of denying the rights of the workers it represents while an employer is recognising these rights."

David Jones joins a growing list of corporations that recognise the same-sex marriages of staff members. The list includes ANZ, Westpac, Qantas, Telstra, the Commonwealth Bank, ING,  Seek  and  IBM. Earlier this month rank and file members of the SDA sought to challenge the Union's position against marriage equality in a meeting in Brisbane.

• For more on Joe de Bruyn's opposition to marriage equality click here
• For more on rank-and-file opposition to de Bruyn's stance, click here and here
• To view the list of employers supporting marriage equality click here