Archive, Industry News

MJ Rowles keeps TWU at bay

TWU fails in bid to represent truck drivers at MJ Rowles after majority of employees vote against enterprise bargaining

By Brad Gardner | February 3, 2012

Long-time building and landscape supplier MJ Rowles has successfully fended off a union attempt to represent the company’s truck drivers in enterprise agreement negotiations.

Fair Work Australia dismissed the Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) application to bargain on behalf of drivers after a majority of them did not support union involvement.

Only 11 of the 31 drivers balloted voted yes to wanting to bargain with the NSW-based family business. Twelve drivers did not vote.

“Having regard to the results of the ballot it is evident that the majority of employees do not wish to bargain for an agreement which would apply to them,” Fair Work Commissioner Greg Harrison says.

“Accordingly the application for a determination is dismissed.”

The TWU sent a bargaining notice to MJ Rowles on September 2 last year after holding discussions with employees about their terms and conditions.

It told Fair Work Australia MJ Rowles declined to negotiate an agreement and was intent on using individual contracts.

The union claims the company approached drivers individually and offered them permanent employment and the re-instatement of rostered days off if they signed individual contracts.

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend