TOLL MEMBER ALERT: IMPORTANT REPORT BACK MEETINGS WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK. UPDATES TO FOLLOW.
The Transport Workers’ Union has today lodged a protected action ballot in the Fair Work Commission against Toll after talks stalled on key issues.
The TWU has been consulting with transport workers at Toll on the next steps they wish to take.
The protected action ballot is expected to be approved by workers within the coming weeks.
Transport workers will then be able to take a range of actions, from bans on over-time, call backs and paper work to 24-hour work stoppages.
Transport workers reached an impasse following months of negotiations over attempted cuts to their working hours and the hiring of casuals and labour hire workers. Talks also stalled on attempts to limit the range of disputes employees can seek redress on at the Fair Work Commission. Workers are also concerned by moves to end supply chain auditing, which ensures every worker carting for Toll, including those employed by sub-contractors, receive safe and fair working conditions.
TWU National Assistant Secretary Michael Kaine said employees are very angry and very disappointed at the level of intransigence on vital issues.
“The overwhelming response from the workforce is to seek protected action to demand that Toll begins to see sense. The company has refused to budge on major issues that will affect the livelihoods of transport workers and their ability to support their families. This is about ensuring that Toll retains an experienced, well-trained workforce which has safety and productivity as its number one priority,” he said.
“Workers have shown incredible patience with the company during these negotiations and our member-led team has negotiated in good faith. This follows serious concerns when the full scale of previous mismanagement was revealed and job cuts were announced. This patience is now running thin and members have decided the only choice they have is to prepare for action in order to protect quality jobs at Toll and to ensure the company’s future prospects.”
The TWU National EBA Committee are in there fighting to preserve all of your hard-fought pay, conditions and jobs.
In 2013, the TWU battled hard before securing an agreement that guaranteed a fairer, safer future for all Toll workers and their families. That agreement expired on June 30 this year and, now Japan Post owns Toll, we need to be prepared to fighter even harder to protect our rights and conditions.
TWU (Vic/Tas Branch) Assistant Secretary Chris Fennell said Toll was trying to use the current round of bargaining to change employment clauses relating to conditions.
“This campaign needs to be fought on two fronts – not to lose anything that we have won in the past and to get an increase as reflected in the member-endorsed log of claims,” he said.
“We are in this for the long haul, but we need to stick together and stand strong and, if we do, we will get there again.”