August 27, 2024

‘Watershed moment’ for Australia’s transport industry

Truckies, food delivery drivers and parcel couriers will ask for better pay and conditions in the “biggest shake up” of the transport industry to end “deadly exploitation”.

Under new changes coming into effect this week, gig workers and drivers will have access to the Fair Work Commission for the first time as an expert panel is tasked with setting standards to improve safety.

The Transport Workers’ Union will target three areas when it makes submissions to the industrial umpire’s new road transport division on Wednesday.

Gig workers and drivers will have access to the Fair Work Commission for the first time. (Jane Dempster/AAP PHOTOS)

They include food and beverage deliveries to people’s homes performed by gig workers for companies such as UberEats, DoorDash, Menulog and Hungry Panda.

Better payments for those in transport supply chains from major clients such as retailers Aldi and Amazon and for deliveries made using their vehicles when engaged by companies such as AmazonFlex, Aramex and CouriersPlease will also be a focus.

More than 1780 people have been killed in truck crashes and 486 transport workers have been killed on the job in the past 10 years.

The applications will be referred to a Road Transport Advisory Group of registered organisations which will co-ordinate consultation to inform the expert panel on standards.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine says the applications mark “a watershed moment” for workers. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine labelled the action as the “start of the biggest shake-up of the transport industry in living memory”.

“Making these applications during the first week of this ground-breaking legislation is a watershed moment for Australia’s 500,000 plus transport workers, their families and the entire community,” he said.

“With the boom of online retail and food delivery, consumers have come to expect rapid deliveries to our doors but also expect that drivers are paid properly and work under safe conditions.

“Until now, that has not been the case.

“Over time, these standards can be built up and expanded out until we have eradicated the Amazon effect that has brought deadly exploitation and unsustainable competition to the transport industry.”

This post was originally published on Michael West.