Union emphasises length of conciliation and extension of rights statewide
The Transport Workers Union’s New South Wales branch has welcomed the General Carriers Contract Determination (GCCD) extension, casting it as a natural progression.
Industry groups sensitive to rates regulation following the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal experience are voicing their concerns about the rate-setting aspect contained in the second stage of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (NSW IRC) reform.
But the union notes that no such determination has been made so far and the NSW IRC handed down extension on April 29 after more than two years of conciliated negotiations between industry representatives and the Transport Workers Union NSW.
The stage one determination document shows nine industry and employer groups and companies as parties to it: Australian Federation of Employers and Industries (AFEI), Australian Road Transport Industrial Organisation (ARTIO), NSW branch; Australian Industrial Group (AiG) NSW branch; Linfox; Mainfreight Distribution; Master Builders’ Association (MBA) of NSW; NSW Business Chamber (NSWBC); TNT Australia; Toll.
“The GCCD has been in existence since 1984 for the Sydney metro region and local work across the state – this is simply an extension to cover owner drivers and work conducted across NSW,” TWU NSW acting secretary Richard Olsen says.
Olsen adds that owner drivers would quickly see the benefits of being covered by the contract determination.
“This is about extending rights to all owner-drivers across the state and will only improve their business and their work,” he says.
“We are calling on the New South Wales government to launch a thorough information and consultation period with owner drivers so they are aware of the changes and how they will benefit their businesses.”
The new GCCD comes into effect on Saturday.
- The union says that the extended GCCD gives owner-drivers:
- The right to have a dispute heard in the NSW IRC through a disputes settlement clause
- Dictates payment times
- Ensures that all contract carriers are paid for the work they do and the equipment they provide.