Members, in just the short opening months of 2026, your union has wasted little time in acting to make good on the promises of the 2026 campaign. Myself, as well as NSW Secretary Richard Olsen and National Secretary Michael Kaine are working in lockstep with members on the ground to achieve tangible wins and put us in good stead for 2029 and beyond.
In the most recent journal, I wrote to you reflecting on the huge and equally historic successes of last year, including the $90 million penalty against Qantas (following the $121 million fund set up for the workers illegally sacked by the Joyce Regime), the passing of further Transport Reform in the NSW Parliament, which resulted in the removal of exclusions for owner drivers, and the recognition of gig workers in NSW law for the first time. We saw members from across the wider industry fight for recognition and a fair go, and this year, we’re already seeing even more drive, solidarity and grit.
We are relentless
As I said to you last year, the TWU has gained a reputation – rightly so – of taking on the fights nobody else wants to take on, of fighting for workers when the chips are down and still coming out on top. The only reason we can do that is because of our members, who are the most relentless anywhere.
At the 2025 Delegates Conference, I said that while we should be immensely proud of what we’ve done so far, it’s not time now to sit back and wait for the next wins to come to us. On the contrary, every battle we’ve won, in the yards, the courts, or in Parliaments, comes from years of hard work. We can’t bet on a Minister knocking on our door and saying “great job on Chapter 6 TWU, here’s what we’re doing next.” It’s on us to set the agenda, keep making our voices heard and continue the momentum that we’ve been building.
And this year, we’ve been doing just that. In just the last few months alone, we’ve been back to NSW Parliament for our bus industry roundtable, where members spoke directly to power – employers and ministers alike – to tell them about the realities of an industry in crisis. The Premier coming in and taking the time to speak to members is proof that the government takes the TWU seriously.
We have not rested on our laurels however, putting in a historic multi-employer bargaining application to the Fair Work Commission just recently, looking to right the wrong of NSW bus drivers being among the worst-paid and stretched-thin in the country.
This is not even to mention our large actions with majors and retail delegates, aviation delegates, and our safe and secure skies delegation to
Canberra in March.
My point is that you, the members, continue to be the benchmark that the union movement aspires to live up to. Your relentlessness, your dedication, and most importantly, your guts are what make the Transport Workers’ Union the powerful and respected voice that we are, a voice that echoes through the yards, through the streets, at Parliaments and in courtrooms. You are the voice that employers and governments make sure to listen to, because people know the TWU wins the fights we pick.
When we fight, we win. And this year, we’ll win the fight for Our Roads, Our Skies, Our Future.
Nick McIntosh • TWU Assistant Secretary