Company pledges efficiency focus on customers and frontline operations
As the Transport Workers Union (TWU) gauges the impact of Toll Group’s rationalisation and planned job-shedding, the effect on management remains unclear.
The group has 40,000 employees in over 50 countries in more than 1,200 locations and there is unconfirmed speculation that Australian job losses may make up less than 10 per cent overall.
“The TWU will be meeting union delegates and the company in the coming days to consider, in consultation with the workforce, the redundancies, including job transfers and redundancy proposals,” a spokesperson confirms.
A Toll spokesman would not be drawn on which management position had been vacated and whether they have been at head office and Toll Ipec.
The message is that there will be a stronger focus on customers and frontline operations, with the company saying: “The impacted roles are predominantly in Australia, reflecting ongoing challenging conditions in the domestic network market.
“Our Asian and domestic contract businesses continue to perform strongly.
“Customer service will not be impacted, with the changes focusing on back office, managerial positions and support roles.”
In a recent statement, new Toll CEO Michael Byrne pointed to the continuing needs and challenge of competing in the international market.
“As a global leader in logistics, we need to continually review our operations to adapt to changing market conditions to ensure we are responsive to our customers and are able to offer competitive solutions,” Byrne says.
“As part of a recent review to improve productivity, we have started talking with our employees about a proposal that will see from 180 to 200 roles impacted.
“This is not a move we take lightly.
“We will fully support employees impacted by these changes, including offering redundancy entitlements, redeployment opportunities where available and career transition support.
“Our aim is to not only drive improvements in the short term, but also continue to build our global supply chain strategy to offer our customers a competitive advantage.”
For its part, the TWU is keeping its powder dry and meetings are now underway with members in the company in the hope of gaining a clearer picture.
A response, if needed, will be formulated once that is done.