TWU plans convoys & protests in all major cities on Sunday

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Australasian Transport News  /  June 17, 2016

The union is planning protests across all major cities this Sunday

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is planning to hold rallies across Australia on Sunday to protest against the abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) and its ‘safe rates’ order.

It says road transport workers and families of those killed in truck crashes will join the union to highlight the high death toll in the trucking industry with rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Brisbane.

Convoys are planned to cross the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, and a ‘go-slow’ movement along the South Eastern Freeway in Adelaide.

"With the highest fatality rate of any industry, drivers want to be safe at work and they don’t want to risk the lives of others," TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says.

"The pressure on the industry by wealthy retailers, manufacturers, oil companies and banks has got to stop.

"These clients use transport services but don’t want to pay for their goods to be delivered safely.

"Drivers are being pushed to speed, drive long hours, skip mandatory rest breaks and skip maintenance on their vehicles.

"This is so wealthy clients at the top can make massive profits by cutting transport costs.

"The community is sick and tired of paying with their lives for corporate revenues and chief executive paychecks."

The rallies will follow other protests against the termination of the Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 (RSRO).

Earlier this week, the TWU faced industry backlash for a recent advertisement that links the removal of RSRT with the death of children on local roads.

Nearly two months after the ‘safe rates’ RSRO was abolished, the industry continues to remain divided on this subject.

Industry bodies such as the Australian Transport Association (ATA) have made repeated calls to political parties to not reinstate the tribunal and the minimum rates order after the July elections.

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) had suggested setting up of a mandatory telematics system to improve road safety in place of the reestablishment of the RSRT.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) office is currently holding industry consultations to determine the impact of the order on the small business sector.

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TWU announces convoys & protests in all major cities this Sunday

Big Rigs  /  June 17, 2016

Truck drivers, their families and the families of those killed in truck crashes will join co-ordinated convoys and protests around the country on Sunday to highlight the high death toll in trucking.

Convoys will cross the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, with a go-slow planned for the South- Eastern Freeway in Adelaide. Rallies will also be held in Perth, Brisbane and Darwin. The convoys and protests will include owner drivers, employee drivers and other road transport workers.

"The trucking community is coming together to say enough is enough. With the highest fatality rate of any industry, drivers want to be safe at work and they don't want to risk the lives of others. The pressure on the industry by wealthy retailers, manufacturers, oil companies and banks has got to stop. These clients use transport services but don't want to pay for their goods to be delivered safely," said TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon.

"Drivers are being pushed to speed, drive long hours, skip mandatory rest breaks and skip maintenance on their vehicles. This is so wealthy clients at the top can make massive profits by cutting transport costs. The community is sick and tired of paying with their lives for corporate revenues and chief executive paychecks," he added.

The Federal Government has opposed a system of Safe Rates which would ensure drivers are not pushed to break safety rules. The Government's own reports published in April show the link between road safety and the pay rates of drivers and that the safe rates system would reduce truck crashes by 28%.

Sue Posnakidis, whose brother John died in a truck crash in 2010,　will attend the rally in Adelaide. "My brother's death was not an accident. The driver who crashed into him was inexperienced, fatigued and driving a truck which had faulty brakes. I want to make sure no other family goes through what mine is still going through," she said.

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Truckies as Baddies

Diesel News AU  /  June 16, 2016

This election ad doesn’t help anyone. All we are doing here is reinforcing the impression the trucking industry is highly dangerous and truckies are going around killing children. Yes, make an ad to tell people not to vote Liberal, that’s fair enough, but don’t do it at the expense of denigrating your own industry. An industry which already suffers from a very negative public perception. At a time when the image of trucking needs all the help it can get, simply reinforcing false stereotypes is just exacerbating the problem. No-one wants their kids to work in an industry like the one presented in this attack ad.

Tony Sheldon and the Transport Workers Union have the right to go hard and to drive home their issues. They do so here in a video made in the lead up to the abolition of the RSRT. Yes, strong emotion, heartfelt discussion and an all out attack on the Prime Minister. This is good old robust Australian politics, but it’s not denigrating everyone who works in our industry.

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SARTA: TWU members are quitting, pulling super

Owner/Driver  /  June 19, 2016

The union's recent campaign that places a family in the path of a truck has been critised by the industry and, SARTA says, from its own members

South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) executive director Steve Shearer has taken a second swipe at the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) over its "appalling misleading scare-mongering campaign" that sees a fatigued driver crash into a family-packed car.

Reaffirming his disappointment at the campaign, Shearer says it has "disillusioned" its members – shown by "social media comments and from what we are hearing directly within the industry" – resulting in "TWU members … leaving the union and pulling out from its Super fund in droves".

"The TWU is in disarray over its false and misleading claims and outrageously manipulative TV and radio campaign," he says.

The SARTA chief was joined by the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell in slamming the TWU’s advertisements that link the removal of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) with the death of children. Watch it here.

He says the ads fly "in the face of what the TWU know is the actual truth and its members are increasingly fed up with them."

"In stooping to new lows, using images of children in a car, in its desperate and misleading advertisements as it tries to prop up its bid to have a Labor Government do its bidding and re-instate the disastrous Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, the TWU has offended not only the great bulk of the trucking industry but also many of its own members."

The latest round of criticism comes as the union protested the end of the RSRT and its 2016 ‘safe rates’ Order in a number of locations across the country.

The protests, which included convoys across the Bridge in Sydney, the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, and a go-slow on the South-Eastern Freeway in Adelaide, were backed by rallies in Perth, Brisbane, and Darwin, the union says.

Its national secretary Tony Sheldon says "the trucking community is coming together to say enough is enough."

"With the highest fatality rate of any industry, drivers want to be safe at work and they don’t want to risk the lives of others.

"Drivers are being pushed to speed, drive long hours, skip mandatory rest breaks and skip maintenance on their vehicles.

"This is so wealthy clients at the top can make massive profits by cutting transport costs."

According to the TWU, "the Government’s own reports published in April show the link between road safety and the pay rates of drivers and that the safe rates system would reduce truck crashes by 28 per cent."

Numbers Shearer rejects.

"Today’s protest shows the TWU is still happy to thumb its nose at the truth and the public, as well as to many of its own members, and keep peddling its false and grossly exaggerated claims of accident rates," Shearer says.

The industry body chief says the union "knows [the statistics it is using] are completely at odds with government figures, including from the SA Labor Government."

Shearer says the TWU is choosing to "ignore" a "report released by Road Safety Minister, Michael O'Brien in 2013; that 74 per cent of fatal car-truck crashes are caused by the motorists involved, not by the truck driver."

He says "the TWU knows the truth but they … want to fool the public."

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Labor puts RSRT case to ALRTA

Owner/Driver  /  June 20, 2016

ALRTA warns industry of Labor's stance on RSRT ahead of the July elections

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) urges industry members to voice their opinion on the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) before the local candidates ahead of next month’s federal elections after Labor indicates it plans to reinstate the minimum rates order.

In its response to ALRTA’s query regarding Labor’s stance on the subject of the Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 (RSRO) and the RSRT, the party says the decision to abolish the tribunal was "disproportionate" and "dangerous".

Labor’s official letter addressed to ALRTA national president Kevin Keenan states that while the party concedes there were deficiencies with the order, particularly with the implementation process, it intends to "work with all parties to find a workable, sensible solution".

"Labor has committed to working with employers, employer groups and unions to bring back a bipartisan forum to establish safe rates of pay in the heavy vehicle industry," the letter states.

"On heavy vehicle charging, Labor has called on the federal government and the states and territories to account to the heavy vehicle sector for its decisions around the road user charge.

"Labor will approach the matter in light of our record, the commitments we have made and the state of the Budget."

It condemns prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and employment minister Michaelia Cash’s involvement in the move that led to the federal parliament voting out the tribunal and its controversial ‘safe rates’ order in April.

"A government, and a minister who was genuinely concerned with the interests and safety of truck drivers, would have done what Labor suggested and brought all parties together to seek a fair and sensible solution."

Labor says it understand the concerns raised by many owner-drivers and is willing to find a workable solution.

"Governments have a responsibility to respond to and ensure road safety, based on the evidence and community standards," the letter says.

"Labor understands that many owner-drivers had expressed concern regarding the effect of the tribunal’s most recent Road Safety Remuneration Order on the profitability of their business.

"Labor conceded there were deficiencies with the order, particularly the implementation arrangements and we consistently said we’d like to work with all parties to find a workable, sensible solution."

Considering the two major political parties, Liberals and Labor, still don’t see eye-to-eye in this matter, ALRTA is asking members of the trucking industry to present their views to all local candidates prior to the elections.

The ALRTA says "there are a lot of individuals that make up the Federal Parliament and we may yet finish up with yet another minority government after the election. 

"Remember that there is both a double dissolution AND new voting rules – so nothing is a certainty.

"That is why it is important for you to make your views about the possible return of the RSRT known to your local candidates now – before any possible negotiations to form a government begin".

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ATA’s election report card gives Coalition a tick

Owner/Driver  /  June 20, 2016

With RSRT a key defining parameter, ATA rates Labor as the second and Greens as the third choice

The Liberal-National Coalition has ticked all the right boxes in Australian Trucking Association (ATA)’s 2016 election report card.

The trucking body’s national report, which was released today, assesses political parties and candidates against three main parameters – their take on the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), practical measures to improve road safety, and supporting stronger trucking businesses.

While the Coalition received three out of three ticks, Labor received two and Greens bagged just one tick.

Reiterating its take on the RSRT and the minimum rates order, the ATA says the tribunal was a "disaster for truck owner-drivers".

"Small trucking businesses subject to the RSRT’s price-fixing order found that it increased costs by 20-30 per cent," ATA chair Noelene Watson.

"They could not compete, and their survival was at risk.

"Two independent reports found no proven link between price fixing and safety.

While acknowledging the past work and commitment of both the Coalition and Labor towards road safety, Watson warns that Labor has already indicated that it would bring back the Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 (RSRO) or introduce a similar fixed-price mechanism in the industry.

"In this campaign, the trucking industry called on political parties and candidates to confirm they would not re-establish the RSRT or any similar price-fixing mechanism.

"The Coalition abolished the RSRT and has pledged not to re-establish it or anything like it.

"In contrast, the Labor Party would bring back a forum to fix prices in our industry.

"The Coalition would spend extra money on key road programs and an extra $4 million a year for truck safety measures.

"The Labor Party has a long record of investment in better roads and has emphasised its support for strong chain of responsibility laws.

"These laws are needed to hold our customers to account."

Both Coalition and Labor received a tick for their support for stronger trucking businesses.

"The Coalition would reduce the fuel tax for trucks from 1 July 2016, as well as the company tax rate for businesses earning less than $10 million per year.

"Labor Leader Bill Shorten has confirmed that Labor would continue the fuel tax credits we get through the BAS system, despite the views of some of his caucus members.

"The Labor Party would also deliver tax cuts, but for businesses earning less than $2 million a year."

The one tick for Greens was attributed to its support for an audit of truck driver training providers, ATA says.

"The Greens supported the RSRT and voted against its abolition," Watson says.

"They want to take away the industry’s fuel tax credits, even though truck and bus operators are already overtaxed."
Independent senators including Glenn Lazarus, Bob Day, Nick Xenophon and Jacqui Lambie received full marks for their take on industry issues.

"I ask everyone in the trucking industry to consider the ATA’s report cards as they decide how to vote on 2 July," she says.

The ATA has also released state-specific report cards for Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. For more details, visit the ATA website.

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NatRoad targets RSRT in election campaign

Owner/Driver  /  June 21, 2016

The ‘Safety is my business’ initiative aims to promote the message to further empower NHVR and not reinstate RSRT

NatRoad has launched a pre-election campaign to encourage industry members to raise their concerns regarding the future of the currently-abolished Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) and how it will impact the industry if it was brought back.

It comes after the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) released its ‘election 2016 report card’ that rates political parties and senators based on their take on trucking-related issues, and the ALRTA fired a warning to industry members to highlight their concerns to local candidates prior to the elections.

With the two major political sides still holding opposing views in the matter of bringing back the tribunal and the federal elections less than two weeks away, NatRoad says it is time for industry members to seek commitment from various political parties and candidates on this issue.

NatRoad is opposed to the tribunal and its Contractor Driver Minimum Payments Road Safety Remuneration Order 2016 (RSRO), and has earlier suggested increasing the powers of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to promote safety and compliance reforms in the transport sector.

"We all want a safe, competitive, thriving road freight industry – after all every Australian relies on trucks to transport goods to our communities," NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says.

"But when I talk to owner drivers during this election it is pretty clear that many businesses hang on the outcome.

"On the one hand if the Coalition is returned to Government, they will not return to the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and will redirect the previous tribunal funding to safety reform through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

"On the other hand, if the Australian Labor Party is elected, it has stated that it would re-introduce the RSRT and consult on the order.

"These are vastly different approaches to the industry and a return to the RSRT would have an impact on the bottom line of small business truck drivers everywhere.

"Small trucking businesses know that a return to the RSRT is not the answer to improve safety.

"For owner drivers – safety is their business – it underpins their ability to be in the driver’s seat making a living in their small business.

"We know that safety in the road freight industry is vastly different from the 1980’s and that government, regulators, industry bodies and individual businesses continue to make significant investments to improve safety.

"We all want to continue to improve safety in our industry while ensure there is some consistency to regulations after many years of change and that safety compliance is truly practical."

Launching the campaign, Clark says ‘Safety is my business’ aims to "highlight how far we have come as an industry while encouraging members to actively seek commitment from candidates for further safety reform through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator rather than a tribunal".

"We will keep the focus on the implications of this election result for our industry through the ‘Safety is my business’ campaign combined with a new NatRoad special interest group for owner-drivers and our continued representation on government advisory groups.

The campaign will run up to the election on July 2. For more details on how to get involved in the campaign, visit www.smalltruckingbusiness.com.