At the South Coast, we’ve seen several long-term fights pay off in the last 12 months. One of the most notable is that the new Waste Regulations that we fought relentlessly for over many years have now come into effect, to the benefit of our members.
We were pleased to see earlier this year that Remondis employees were already benefitting from this victory, having their current rates of pay attached to the Wollongong City and Shellharbour combined tender. Elsewhere however, at Picton, we stood up as Remondis shamefully backed away from their previously agreed 2026 expiry. The union has a simple ask, which is an EA with a 2026 or 2029 expiry with better pay increases and a pathway to 15% superannuation. We made it clear to them that if they wouldn’t meet the workers there, it was a non-starter.
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 fairness is essential everywhere.
We also saw the DGL site in Port Kembla’s 21 Dump become fully unionised. The drivers stuck together, now having an even stronger voice in the effort to improve working procedures and structures. I was proud to recently commend them on their efforts.
Recently, we were extremely proud to see the payoff to another years long battle, that being permanent facilities for bus drivers in Wollongong.
It’s been a 30-year journey to find a permanent home, but the result is the opening 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.
The fight to stop the race to the bottom and ensure better conditions across the Transport Industry is ongoing, and next year will be the biggest fight of all. In 2025, the TWU vanquished the last of the Alan Joyce regime, with Qantas forced to pay one of the biggest penalties in Australian history for illegally sacking workers. We also saw our changes to the Industrial Relations Act pass the NSW Parliament – Chapter 6 is now fit for purpose for the 21st century. These were fantastic – historic, achievements. They put us in a good footing for next year. With over 200 EAs expiring in 2026, it’s up to the members of the mighty Transport Workers’ Union to ensure Our Roads, Our Skies, and Our Future are fairer.
Rob Pirc
SOUTH COAST & SOUTHERN
Sub-branch Secretary