Penalty rates, for working at night or on weekend, were scrapped in some agreements. The union has also been criticised for its close relationship with employers, which the "Sydney Morning Herald" has labelled "a longstanding and cosy partnership". One controversial aspect of this has been the union's practice of paying commissions to employers, including Coles and Woolworths, as an administration charge for payroll deduction of union dues. The union defended the arrangements, citing the importance of payroll deductions for members who work fluctuating hours. In 2016, the rival Retail and Fast Food Workers Union was formed because of these perceived shortcomings. The SDA is affiliated with the Australian Labor Party and is one of the most powerful unions in the Australian Labor Party's Labor Right faction. The union has been a leading supporter of many significant Labor Party reforms including Medicare, Compulsory Superannuation and abolishing John Howard's WorkChoices laws. The SDA's Victorian branch was the largest individual donor to the Victorian Labor Party in 2013–14, giving $315,667. SDA Secretary, Gerard Dwyer, is currently an elected member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive. Present federal members of Australia's parliamentary Labor Party that have a close association with the SDA include House of Representatives members Tony Burke, Nick Champion and Amanda Rishworth and Senators Catryna Bilyk, Raff Ciccone, Don Farrell, Deborah O'Neill and Helen Polley. Historically, the SDA leadership has taken some socially conservative positions especially concerning issues like abortion, IVF, and same-sex marriage in Australia. In 2016, the SDA formally declared neutrality on the issue of same sex marriage with the National Executive of the SDA adopting a policy of supporting the right of members of the ALP to act according to their conscience on the matter. Prior to this, several SDA-aligned Labor MPs expressed public support for same-sex marriage in opposition to the SDA leadership including Kate Ellis, Amanda Rishworth and Nick Champion.