The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has congratulated the Rudd Government on ending WorkChoices, but says it will not be happy
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has congratulated the Rudd Government on ending WorkChoices, but says it will not be happy until freight rates are fixed.
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon says the Fair Work Bill, introduced into parliament yesterday, “is a giant leap forward for all transport workers and their families”.
But while referring to the Bill as the “final nail in the coffin of John Howard’s extreme workplace laws”, Sheldon says it does not do enough to protect the industry’s most vulnerable workers.
“It is critical that all transport workers across Australia are protected by a system of safe fair rates which will allow them to safely do their job by receiving a fair rate of pay that alleviates the pressures they face every day on the road.”
The union is pushing hard for the Rudd Government to implement the recommendations of a report into setting up a ‘safe rates’ system to end the number of heavy vehicle accidents.
“The Federal Government should be congratulated on restoring fairness to working families and should now implement the necessary framework to end the carnage on Australia’s roads,” Sheldon says.
He says all transport workers deserve decent working conditions, fair pay rates and the right to bargain collectively and be represented by a union.
Citing figures showing a 19.7 percent increase in heavy vehicle fatalities the pas year, Sheldon says the domination of transport clients like Coles and Woolworths in setting rates and deadlines must end.