TWU granted approval to seek support for a strike against milk transporter Murray Goulburn Co-Operative
By Brad Gardner | December 21, 2010
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) will ballot truck drivers at Murray Goulburn Co-Operative to seek support for strike action against the milk transporter.
Fair Work Australia has approved an application for a protected action ballot as the TWU tries to negotiate a new enterprise agreement with Murray Goulburn.
The TWU told Fair Work Australia it had been negotiating with Murray Goulburn since August this year.
The company, which runs a fleet of 170 trucks and employs 400 drivers, did not oppose the application.
“On what is before me, I am satisfied that the TWU…is genuinely trying to reach agreement with the employer of the employees who are to be balloted,” Commissioner John Lewin says.
“Accordingly, an order for protected action ballot will issue.”
According to its website, Murray Goulburn’s fleet of 170 prime movers includes 48 B-doubles. The company operates seven sites in Victoria but also carries milk in South Australia and NSW.