I’d like to reflect further on what the union has managed to achieve in the last 12 months. After fighting relentlessly for new Waste Regulations, these State Government regulations came into effect last year, already leading to benefits for South Coast members – for eg ensuring current rates of pay were attached to the Wollongong City and Shellharbour tender.
Elsewhere, we also fought hard to ensure that workers at Cleary Brothers kept their roles after Cleary Brothers were purchased by the MAAS Group. We also stood proudly with our members at employers such as Cleanaway, Boral, Heidelberg, Multiquip and more, because as I said last year, fairness is essential everywhere. The Boral fight in particular is continuing into 2026, as the Transport Workers’ Union submitted a historic application to the Fair Work Commission calling for minimum standards for concrete drivers.
Boral’s appalling treatment of long-term and experienced drivers has led to the degradation of standards. The race to the bottom must stop now.
We also closed off last year with the triumphant outcome to a yearslong battle, that being permanent facilities for bus drivers in Wollongong.
It’s worth remembering that this is no small thing. The TWU fought for literal decades for a permanent home. By working constructively with the local and state governments on this issue and ensuring their eye never left our drivers’ needs, we achieved the end result of a better, safer, permanent facility for bus workers.
We appreciate the efforts of Minister Scully, Transport for New South Wales and Wollongong Council to help ensure this came to fruition. We’ll continue to work with all partners to ensure safety is the priority in Wollongong.
Now, we’ve entered 2026, and already a few months in, we’re seeing members endorsing claims and standing together across roads and aviation to fight for Our Roads, Our Skies, Our Future.
I was proud to join Bus Delegates as we submitted our Multi-Employer Bargaining Application to the Fair Work Commission, seeking to create a minimum standard for bus drivers for the first time in decades. The state government as the client is working constructively with the union, but the situation for bus drivers is dire, and the government knows that if they don’t act soon, services could be disrupted from Wollongong to Port Stephens.
I also joined Majors and Retail Delegates for Majors Bargaining Round 3, along with Delegates from across NSW. The solidarity was great to see, and it’s clear after years of momentum and witnessing the race to the bottom firsthand that we all know what’s acceptable and what’s required of both employers and clients-alike.
Members, I wish you all a safe and happy Easter break, and look forward to standing with you this year as we continue to fight for a fairer industry.
Rob Pirc
SOUTH COAST & SOUTHERN
Sub-branch Secretary