The TWU has been relentless in fighting to ensure Chapter 6 is responsive to transport workers and small businesses in the 21st century, in a campaign which began over a decade ago.
The long fought-for changes will include, but are not limited to:
- The removal of archaic exclusions for protections, such as the delivery of milk and bread, and modern gig workers;
- making changes that allow the IRC to resolve disputes and make binding contract determinations for owner drivers with up to three vehicles, and
- giving the IRC more power to resolve disputes, including through issuing interim determinations.
Throughout the day, the Union received a great deal of support – not just from members of the NSW Labor Government but across the political spectrum. In the end, we received support from the majority of the Upper House, with the shameful exception of the opposition.
Chapter 6 has needed reforming for many years. While the transport industry evolved, and the gig economy began to flourish, the law was left behind, and our calls for reform from the previous government went ignored.
The TWU received an election commitment from the then-Minns Labor opposition to update Chapter 6, and we’re pleased that they’ve kept their promise. In particular, the contributions by the Hon. Sophie Cotsis, the Minister for Industrial Relations, and others, are commended for getting this made into law. Sophie in particular has been onboard since the very beginning.
Learn more about the benefits of the reforms by reading our Chapter 6 digest: https://bit.ly/c6digest
State Secretary Richard Olsen said, “The changes to Chapter 6 are long fought-for reforms that give owner drivers some much needed protections and finally acknowledge the role that gig workers play in the NSW economy. The Transport Workers’ Union has been relentless in our advocacy, and I’m pleased that the Minns Labor Government has kept its promise.”