| This has been a very active week at the union. As always, we’ve been out at yards and welcoming members to our Sub-branches. This week has also seen us work towards significant wins. Our “Road to Respect” campaign has yielded another achievement, with bus drivers receiving permanent rest and toilet facilities in Parramatta. After a long period of advocacy, and almost fifteen years of temporary arrangements, bus drivers will finally have access to new, permanent male and female bathroom facilities, as well as having their break time in a new, expanded meal room. |
This is a welcome upgrade and a mark of progress, but there’s still work to do. The TWU will stand with transport workers every step of the way.
Elsewhere, the TWU gave evidence at a Parliamentary inquiry into the future of infrastructure for electric / alternative energy source vehicles in NSW. We have more to say about the advice we gave below.
Lastly, as always – it has been a pleasure to welcome so many of you to our Sub-branches this week. Our movement belongs to the members, and our doors are always open.
TWU Gives Evidence at Parliament To Improve Future of Transport Infrastructure
This week, The TWU appeared at the Parliamentary inquiry into infrastructure for electric and alternative energy source vehicles in NSW.
In a rapidly evolving transport landscape, it’s important that industry expertise helps guide fair outcomes. TWU NSW Research and Policy Official, Daniel Peric, spoke to the committee about some of the challenges drivers and businesses are facing during the transition, including:
-The difficulty in finding capacity for electric trucks in regional NSW, on top of the challenge of delivering charging infrastructure in the regions.
-The difficulty that must be overcome for truck drivers in charging times for heavy vehicles vs conventionally refueling
-The need for purpose-built charging and refueling facilities, on top of upgrading existing heavy vehicle rest areas. Beginning this preparation work now will allow the industry to stay ahead, instead of falling behind.
And more.
The TWU looks forward to continuing working productively with such inquiries.
TWU Calls for Small Business Toll Relief as Tolls Increase Again
As of this week, tolls have once again increased across the NSW Road Network.
The Transport Workers’ Union continues to decry these rate increases which disproportionately slug owner drivers and small businesses every quarter.
Transport workers rely on access to NSW’s road network to conduct essential business that keeps the state moving. In many cases, such as with NorthConnex, drivers have no option but to use the toll road option.
Recent announcements from the NSW Government seem to indicate that toll relief for private vehicles will be winding up this year, however, with the review package underway, what will replace it is yet to be seen.
Small transport business continues to be in crisis, with owner drivers and business owners burdened with the use of toll roads, zeroing out of profit, and offered little relief thus far.
We have been consistently and relentlessly calling for fairness in this space. 3 Tonne trucks paying the same rate as a fully-loaded B-Double is a confounding inequity which is not tenable in the long term.
Workers are under increasing pressure, and July’s rate hike will only increase the problem.
The TWU says that enough is enough – any toll review package must review the impact of tolls holistically, on private commuters, but also transport operators and drivers which can no longer afford to operate in these conditions.
