60 WORKERS LEFT STRANDED BY COMMUNITY TRANSPORT CENTRAL COAST’S COLLAPSE

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) of NSW is urging Community Transport Central Coast (CTCC) to pay workers what they are owed following the company’s unexpected closure which has left more than 60 employees in limbo.

Workers were blindsided Thursday when they were informed by the company’s CEO of its immediate closure, stating financial strain due to ongoing Enterprise Agreement negotiations was the cause. On Friday, liquidators took control.

Upwards of 50 driving and 10 office roles have been lost because of this. A volunteer-run service operating from the same location is also expected to fold. While workers have been told their entitlements will be paid by the 27th of this month, no clear details have been provided regarding what those payments will include and if they will be paid in full.

The TWU has made multiple attempts to contact CTCC’s management since the collapse, but has only been met with automated messaging services and no direct response.

The union has written to the NSW Government requesting it step in given the scale of job losses and the vital community service which the company provides.

TWU NSW/ACT State Secretary Richard Olsen said CTCC has left these hardworking drivers and staff high and dry.

“These workers have been let down in the worst way possible. They deserved better than a last-minute meeting and vague promises about entitlements. This is a disgrace.

“Vulnerable community members, including cancer patients and people with disabilities, have also been left in the lurch, without the vital transport services they relied on from CTCC.”

“Blaming the closure on workers’ reasonable requests in the EA negotiations is a complete cop-out. The truth is, this was a failure of management to properly run the business, not the fault of workers standing up for fair pay and conditions.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Adam Jacobson – 0405 625 208 / adam.jacobson@twunsw.org.au