September 30, 2024

OUR TRANSPORT REFORM LAWS ARE HERE

After an enormous two-decade campaign from TWU members, ground-breaking transport reform legislation was passed by Federal Parliament earlier this year and came into effect on 26th August. This marks the beginning of the biggest shakeup of the transport industry in Australia, putting us well on our way to securing better rights, conditions, and job security.


WATCH: Our short documentary on the 20+ year campaign to win reform
READ: Our booklet which includes all the info you need on reform and how we can use it

OUR FIRST APPLICATIONS

We’re wasting no time using the new laws to start reshaping the industry.

In the first week of the laws, we made applications to address the most exploited parts of the market, so we can get an immediate safety net in place and begin reversing the race to the bottom.

We’ll follow these with further applications as we work through more complex issues, but we need everyone in the union to make the most of the laws.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE DELIVERY

18 food delivery riders have been killed in recent years. We need an urgent safety net to ease deadly pressures to rush and stay on the road too long. Our application for food delivery riders and drivers standards covers:

  • A safety net on pay and entitlements, ensuring cost recovery and a living wage
  • Company-funded entitlements including superannuation, personal injury insurance, PPE, and safety training
  • Notice of termination of a contract, or payment in lieu of notice
  • Worker representation
  • Dispute resolution and consultation rights

CONTRACT CHAIN ORDER

Over the last decade, more than 3,500 transport businesses have become insolvent. Operators and owner drivers on razor-thin margins can’t afford to chase payments for months on end, or be forced to cut costs year on year. Our application says wealthy clients like retailers, manufacturers and oil companies would be required to:

  • Pay operators/drivers in full within 30 days
  • Remove payment terms that pressure operators or drivers into lowering costs over the duration of a contract

LAST MILE DELIVERY

The Amazon Effect has dragged down standards across transport supply chains. We’re tackling it with applications to lift standards for gig workers at AmazonFlex and owner-drivers at companies like Aramex, ANC and CouriersPlease:

  • Minimum hourly rates that ensure cost recovery and a living wage
  • Company-funded superannuation, safety training and paid rest breaks
  • Notice of termination of a contract, or payment in lieu of notice
  • Worker representation
  • Dispute resolution and consultation rights

THIS IS JUST THE START.

Change takes time, but if we want to get things right that time will be worthwhile. We’ll be working to put in applications across all of transport, including in retail, cash-in-transit and rideshare. These first applications are about creating an immediate safety net while more complex applications are considered.

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