The Transport Workers’ Union has announced it has reached an in-principle agreement with FedEx regarding pay-rises and job security after three months of negotiations, with a vote set to be put to the workforce in the coming weeks.
The agreement comes ahead of the application of the federal government’s changes to the Closing Loopholes bill later this month, which will add new provisions for ‘employee-like’ workers across the transport industry along with wide-ranging changes to the definition of ‘casual employee’.
A 9.25 per cent pay increase over the next two years, parental leave and job security provisions, increased consultation, mental health training and an agreement to jointly pursue a safer, fairer and more sustainable road transport industry are part of the agreement.
Thousands of FedEx workers took multiple rounds of strikes in 2021 following the company’s refusal to guarantee jobs would not be outsourced or to put caps on outside hire.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine has welcomed both the agreement and FedEx’s willingness to negotiate.
“We welcome FedEx’s commitment to work with the TWU on creating a safer, fairer, more sustainable industry,” Kaine says.
“FedEx workers have achieved an agreement that recognises the increasing cost of living, lifting pay and conditions in critical areas after they’ve fallen behind over the last few years.
“In August when the Albanese government’s Closing Loopholes bill takes effect we will move quickly to make applications on minimum standards in road transport to make this industry safer and fairer, and protect job security.”
For more information on the upcoming legislative change in the Closing Loopholes bill, click here.
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