Archive, Industry News

Toll explains stance on subcontractor survey

Response comes following queries to QTA from members

 

Toll Group has explained the measures it takes to ensure rates pay and safety standards throughout its supply chain after the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) noted some of its members had raised concerns over requests for information from Toll to its subcontractors.

“The QTA has been contacted by a number of our members that have raised concerns about a request for information that they recently received from Toll in relation to their Subcontractor Agreement,” QTA’s comminque read.

“The attached letter (Letter to Fleet Operators) was sent out to all Fleet Operators along with a survey (Fleet Operators Questionnaire) and requests commercially sensitive information.” 

The QTA tells ATN that it was liaising with concerned parties and was not in a position to comment further on the matter.

Following enquiries from ATN, Toll says the actions are in line with its enterprise agreement, which was signed with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) in 2017.

“Toll has a registered enterprise agreement with the TWU to cover transport workers across Australia including subcontractors.

“As would be expected this enterprise agreement contains provisions to ensure employees and subcontractors are paid appropriate rates of pay and meet all safety requirements.

“This long-standing arrangement is designed to ensure the integrity of our safety standards and policies.”


Read about Toll’s recent moves in the EV space, here


The TWU backs Toll in the matter, saying its policy ensures transparency throughout the supply chain.

“The TWU-Toll enterprise agreement ensures that all transport workers in the Toll supply chain are paid appropriate rates so that safety is the number one priority,” TWU national secretary Michael Kaine tells ATN.

“The transport supply chain is under pressure from wealthy retailers, manufacturers, oil companies and others which contract transport work.

“By constantly cutting the cost of these contracts the entire supply chain is put under pressure.

“Our agreement with Toll and other transport companies ensures transparency around sub-contractors.

“It is incumbent on major operators to ensure that all sub-contractors in their supply chain carry out work in a safe manner, with workers paid correct rates.

“Our push for safe rates, where clients will also be held to account, is an important part of ensuring the entire supply chain is operating in a safe and fair manner.”

 

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend