The Transport Workers’ Union has been the collective voice for the men and women working in the Australian transport industry since the Victorian Carters and Drivers’ Union – which became the modern TWU - was established in 1900. From humble beginnings, the TWU now represents over 90,000 employees and owner-operators nationally across a wide range of industries, including aviation (pilots, ground services, catering and guest services), oil, fuel and gas, all aspects of road transportation and freight logistics, the private bus industry and waste management.
Our role as a union has always been to secure the best pay, conditions and safety standards for every one of the men and women who are the backbone of the Australian economy. Our collective power has helped create real change within the lives of not only transport workers, but also their families and the communities they live in.
The first recorded road transport unions in Australia were the Coal Carters Union and the owner driver Melbourne Carriers’ Union. Both had folded by 1883. The Coach Drivers’ Union, established in 1885, was the first attempt to cover passenger vehicles but it too folded in 1890. It was apparent the fledgling organisations were unable to survive the harsh economic depression and hostility from employers and governments through a period until 1900 when unions had no legal basis for existence.
The working and living conditions faced by trolley men, draymen and carters were so bad that most slept at night in the carriages they worked 15-hour days, mostly to be paid in food. In 1890, however, transport workers were drawn into the great Maritime strike and over 300 drivers and draymen formed the United Drivers Union of Victoria. Membership swelled to 692 at the apex of the struggle but the strike was defeated and, by May 1892, the United Drivers also folded.
However, the infraction proved organised workers could have a powerful industrial and political voice in the colony. The establishment of wage boards in 1896 and a federal conciliation and arbitration system in 1904 - by the world’s first Labor government - laid the foundation for the growth of the union movement in Australia.
The TWU played a vital role in building this future. The first members were organised to fight for safety on the job and reasonable wages and conditions. They are the same reasons – with the addition of protecting hard-won gains - why members over the years often renew the struggle.
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1900
The Victorian Carters and Drivers’ Union (FCDIU) was established. The FCDIU was the catalyst that bonded mostly fragmented and localised road transport unions at the time into a united national Union. The turning point came when the FCDIU sought and obtained federal registration in 1906.
1917
The Union’s first Federal Award was granted.
1928
The Australian Road Transport Workers Union was established with the return of the NSW Branch which had split from the FCDIU several years earlier.
1937
The TWU won the right to cover workers in air transport and consequently changed its name to the Transport Workers Union of Australia.
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1945
Two weeks’ paid annual leave was awarded for the first time.
1947
40-hour week introduced. National membership rose from 20,234 to 36,999 in 1947 due to Australia’s post-WWII industrial expansion.
1963
Award covering interstate drivers established. TWU’s industrial coverage expands further into the bus, aviation and dairy industries.
1966
National membership reaches 52,000.
1969
The TWU is again the centre of events that shake the labour movement. The Moore v Doyle case in the Commonwealth Industrial Court upholds the right of the TWU to represent owner drivers.
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1977
The Fraser Government legislated a new provision into the Trade Practices Act – Section 45D which outlawed conduct that “hinders or prevents the supply of goods by a third party to a corporation”. Most TWU members, however, who hauled goods between two corporations while often being employed by a third were particularly vulnerable—this period climaxed in 1980 with the so-called Laidley dispute. After 10 days of strike action which spread nationwide, the Union triumphed with a new agreement that spread award coverage to oil agents and contractors.
1979
Owner drivers stage the Razorback blockades to highlight their campaign for the abolition of the NSW Road Tax and increased sub-contract rates.
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1981
National membership reaches 99,000
1982
38-hour week introduced
1986
TWU members won the battle to have their own industry occupational superannuation fund with the creation of The Transport Workers (Superannuation) Award in 1986. The Transport Workers’ Union pioneered an industry superannuation fund, which was the first of its kind in Australia. Since the fund's inception, the Branch has been successfully fighting for employers to agree to pay more into member accounts.
1987
TWU amalgamates with the Motor Transport and Chauffeurs’ Association, giving the Union coverage of the private bus industry in Victoria.
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1991
TWU members unanimously rejected a proposal to amalgamate with the National Union of Workers.
1996
TWU amalgamates with the Federated Gas Employees Industrial Union.
1999
Victorian and Tasmanian Branches of the TWU merge.
2011
The Union continues to fight for decent and fair Australian aviation jobs in the wake of the 2011 Qantas industrial disputes. Members vote to accept the first nationwide Toll EBA.
The TWU commence recruitment and organising of Cabin Crew in Victoria & Tasmania.
2012
The 20-year ‘Safe Rates’ campaign culminates with the passing of ground-breaking legislation to establish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.
2016
Every passenger bus in Victoria will be fitted with perspex security screens and loop barriers to protect drivers from the risk of violent assault following a long and hard-fought TWU campaign.
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2020
The Branch negotiate jobs for stood-down flight attendants and pilots in the Victorian hotel quarantine program following the outbreak of Covid-19 due to their strong and transferrable first response skillset. In addition, the TWU create temporary jobs program for stood down airline workers in parts of the transport industry.
The TWU demands and wins Job Keeper for Australian workers stood down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021
TWU and Virgin Independent Pilots’ Alliance (VIPA) pilots amalgamate
Thousands of transport workers at major transport companies ACFS, Ceva,FedEx, Linfox, Startrack, TGE and Toll commence job security fight in Victoria andTasmania that led to 16,000 workers across 220 sites around Australia taking action.Toll, Startrack and FedEx members all strike meanwhile Linfox, ACFS & Cevawin protected action ballots. The actions led tojob security protections across thetransport industry
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2020
The Branch negotiate jobs for stood-down flight attendants and pilots in the Victorian hotel quarantine program following the outbreak of Covid-19 due to their strong and transferrable first response skillset. In addition, the TWU create temporary jobs program for stood down airline workers in parts of the transport industry.
The TWU demands and wins Job Keeper for Australian workers stood down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021
TWU and Virgin Independent Pilots’ Alliance (VIPA) pilots amalgamate
Thousands of transport workers at major transport companies ACFS, Ceva, FedEx, Linfox, Startrack, TGE and Toll commence job security fight in Victoria and Tasmania that led to 16,000 workers across 220 sites around Australia taking action. Toll, Startrack and FedEx members all strike meanwhile Linfox, ACFS & Ceva win protected action ballots. The actions led to job security protections across the transport industry
2022
Owner Drivers from Hytec take action and win new agreement that delivers safe rates.
New cars left stranded after Autocare Owner Drivers walk off the job and successfully fight off wage cuts.
2023
First airport refuelers strike in forty-years as Rivet members in Melbourne commence action securing landmark agreement.
The High Court's unanimous decision upheld justice and workers' rights, ruling that Qantas illegally outsourced 1700 workers. This marked the end of a tough three-year battle for our members.
2024
The House of Representatives officially passed the Transport Reform bill, marking a significant victory for all transport workers, including those in gig economy roles, by ensuring more equitable and safe working conditions. This legislative triumph was achieved through the dedicated efforts of transport workers who had been tirelessly fighting for decades.
The TWU successful in stopping driverless trucks in Victoria.
Victorian Government announce tougher laws to support Bus Drivers being assaulted and verbally abused by the public.
