The Transport Workers’ Union puts Toll on notice of Fair Work Commission struggle – update
Toll’s enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) negotiations with the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has gained heat over working hours and conditions.
The Transport Workers’ Union has taken Toll, which is pushing through reforms after seeing its income fall, to task over what it claims is premature implementation.
This has resulted in “lengthy meetings that the TWU says led the company to notify that it “will apply to the Fair Work Commission over what it deemed were work stoppages”.
“There is a groundswell of disappointment at Toll over the stalled talks,” TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says.
“Transport workers today are demanding that management explain its stance and the attacks on people’s livelihoods.
“These workers want to ensure a productive company and quality jobs and they are willing to challenge management.
“The anger at Toll follows gross problems by the previous management team which saw jobs cuts and a write-down of the company.
“This anger is beginning to boil over given current management’s stance at the negotiating table.”
Toll response
Toll played a straight bat to the TWU’s delivery.
“Toll continues to bargain in good faith to progress EBA negotiations,” Toll spokesperson says.
“We are confident that we will reach an agreement in due course that balances the needs of our people, customers and the business.
“We look forward to continuing discussions next week.
“While industrial action has not been confirmed, should the TWU proceed with this, we will take appropriate action to ensure that our customers will not be disrupted.”
The TWU says it will tell the FWC the heated meetings “over-ran because of tensions over the cuts Toll is planning”.
Negotiations on a new enterprise agreement began in March and have reached an impasse over cuts to working hours and the hiring of casuals and labour hire workers,” the TWU adds.
Transport workers will next week begin voting to take action which will include bans on over-time, call backs and paper work and 24-hour work stoppages.
Talks also stalled on attempts to limit the range of disputes employees can seek redress on at the FWC.
“Workers are also concerned by moves to end supply chain auditing, which ensure every worker carting for Toll, including those employed by sub-contractors, receive safe and fair working conditions,” Sheldon says.
“The company has separately embarked on critical operational and management restructuring. While those steps need to be applauded the company should not follow the same worn path that was taken by previous failed management.”
A response from Toll has been sought.