JOB SECURITY CONCERNS SPARK POTENTIAL STRIKE ACTION AT TOLL, KIMBERLY CLARK

Toll logistics workers in the Kimberly Clark Distribution Centres in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are pursuing rights to take protected industrial action over outsourcing concerns and pay rates falling far behind their co-workers doing the same job at other distribution centres. 

Workers have filed an application with the Fair Work Commission to hold a protected action ballot, which if successful would give all TWU members across the three sites the right to take protected industrial action.

Workers are seeking job security protections in their enterprise agreement following an increase in work being pushed out to other workers and outside hire.

Workers are also concerned that they’re not receiving the correct shift allowance payments, and that the gap could widen further between their pay compared to workers at other Toll distribution centres who already earn over $4 per hour more to do the same job.

Kimberly Clark uses Toll Group to distribute their product lines which include Kleenex toilet paper, Kleenex tissues, paper towel, nappies, and sanitary products.

TWU NSW/Qld Secretary, Richard Olsen said Toll has pushed workers towards last resort industrial action by refusing to come to the table on reasonable demands for job security protections against outsourcing and the same pay for the same job.

“Toll Kimberly Clark Distribution Centre workers are facing a bleak new year, fearing their jobs may be outsourced after noticing a rise in work being taken off them and given to outside workers.

“These are workers who literally bent over backwards to keep us stocked with essentials like toilet paper during the pandemic, but they’re being ripped off shift allowances and are paid rates far below their counterparts doing similar logistics and distribution work. Workers have understandable concerns about falling behind or even being pushed out of their jobs entirely.

“Our members don’t want to face the prospect of protected industrial action but after months of negotiations have been left with little choice. They need reasonable commitments in their enterprise agreement to protect their job security and provide fair pay for their families’ futures,” Richard Olsen said.

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