Following a minister meeting last week, the ATA has adapted its plan to make trucking contract resolutions easier for operators
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) says it is refining its plan presented to the industry to help resolve unfair contract disputes for trucking businesses.
In its weekly ‘Friday Facts’ newsletter, the ATA says nine out of 10 trucking businesses would be able to resolve contract disputes through the Fair Work Commission rather than in court under the ATA’s refined plan to fix unfair contracts.
The plan was refined following a meeting between ATA director David Simon, CEO Mat Munro and employment and workplace relations minister Tony Burke.
“The meeting was a valuable opportunity to discuss the positions adopted by ATA members last week,” Simon says.
“Our working group met again this week to consider the minister’s views and information requests and we have refined a plan to fix unfair contracts for small trucking businesses.”
Under the plan, trucking businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million per year would be able to resolve contract disputes in the Fair Work Commission rather than needing to go to court.
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“The 3,900 larger businesses in our industry would continue to resolve unfair contract disputes through the courts, but against new, industry-specific standards,” Simon says.
“The FWC is not the right place for complex contract issues involving two large companies to be determined.
“The filing fee to go to the commission to deal with an unfair contract would be higher than the unfair dismissal fee, but it would still be very low cost compared to going to court.”
This week, the ATA working group also considered:
- the FWC’s powers in relation to freight rates and cost schedules, saying the commission should not have the power to fix rates
- the need to exclude businesses operating heavy vehicles from digital platform regulation
- a two stage order-making process, with road transport orders published for consultation two years before coming into force
- how to ensure the FWC’s role does not overlap with road safety regulation or driver licensing
- the ability of the minister to require the FWC to stay and review an order.
The ATA says it will continue to work closely with its members and the federal government on its road transport industry plans.