AMAREX COURIERS TO STOP WORK OVER TWO-DOLLAR PAY RATES

Thousands of parcel deliveries across Sydney will be delayed with Aramex couriers across Greater Sydney walking off the job over outrageously unfair rates of pay in franchise contracts, which couriers say leave them earning as little as $300 per week after costs.

Aramex couriers – who deliver for some of Australia’s largest retailers – are currently paid per parcel delivered, at an average rate of just $2.10 each parcel.

Couriers are also protesting the exorbitant amounts Aramex deducts from their pay for parcels that aren’t able to be delivered. In one case, a courier who was unable to deliver parcels after contracting COVID-19 was deducted almost three times more than they would have been paid to deliver the parcels themselves.

TWU NSW President Tony Matthews said Aramex couriers have been forced to take action after months of attempting to get management back to the table to negotiate fairer rates.

“Aramex’s model is nothing short of modern slavery on wheels. How can this company defend a model that results in couriers working 50 or more hours a week for just a few hundred dollars after costs?” Mr Matthews said.

“These couriers aren’t asking for the world – just a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.”

“It should go without saying that it’s unacceptable for couriers to be working for less than half the minimum wage in some cases – but that’s the reality for Aramex couriers under these extremely unfair franchise contracts.”

“This is the Amazon effect at work – use unregulated platforms like Amazon Flex to smash pay and conditions across the industry, and then sign contracts with the very companies they’ve been undercutting to deliver Amazon’s packages for them.”

“It’s also extremely concerning to hear that some Aramex couriers have had huge amounts of money deducted from them for not delivering parcels while they had COVID-19. All that does is creates enormous pressure on couriers to continue working while they’re sick, and that’s not good for them or the community.”

Aramex, formerly known as Fastway Couriers, services a large number of retail clients including Amazon, Harvey Norman, Pet Circle, eBay, Cotton On, Athletes Foot and Naked Wines.

Aramex’s global revenue in 2020 was more than $2 billion AUD, with a gross profit of almost $600 million AUD.