Don’t Trash Our Jobs has been a crucial campaign for private sector waste workers who have long faced uncertainty around local government tender.
After relentless action by garbos, the NSW Government introduced regulations late last year to ensure their jobs and conditions are secure through any tender. When the Liberal/National opposition tried to overturn these protections earlier this year, our members lobbied hard at Parliament House and won, defeating the attack on their rights. We are already seeing the benefits of these changes, and we will continue pushing to close any remaining loopholes.
For over four decades, Chapter 6 has provided vital protections for owner-drivers, but it hasn’t been substantially updated in nearly 30 years. We’ve since seen the rise of the gig economy as well as owner-drivers being unnecessarily excluded such as bread and milk carters. Companies have become smarter at changing terms of engagements and contracts in order to avoid the protections of these regulations. Our campaign to reform Chapter 6 to protect small business is now well under way and we are ramping up in the coming months.
Our Road to Respect campaign for bus drivers has already seen some major wins, such as better facilities and free Opal cards for drivers. But we need more. We are calling on the Government to recognise the essential work of bus drivers and to commit to fairer wages and conditions ahead of our 2026 industry-wide negotiations. After years of wage suppression under Liberal/National rule, our bus drivers are some of the lowest paid in the country. This must change!
With fresh momentum and Government support, we have a unique chance to build on our wins. Our recent victories prove that when we fight, we win! Let’s keep pushing forward, raising standards, and making the voices of transport workers heard.
Nick McIntosh • TWU Assistant Secretary