Union urges WA staff to reject company’s enterprise agreement offer
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has renewed its attack on breadmaker Tip Top, urging its drivers to reject a Western Australia enterprise agreement.
The union claims a proposed seven-day roster will remove over-time or weekend work extra pay.
Tip Top’s contractual relations with certain of its owner-drivers came to national prominence in November following an edition of ABC’s 7.30 Report.
But little has emerged since a New South Wales inspection of Tip Top trucks and the response of the responsible minister under the federal Independent Contractors Act, employment minister Michaelia Cash, that the only solution was through the Federal Court.
“Tip Top is yet again gaming the system, trying to force its staff to accept a dodgy enterprise agreement which will leave employees struggling to support their families,” TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says.
“The fact that employers can do this as part of the so-called bargaining process shows how the system is broken and the rules need to change.”
The union expects Tip Top will put the agreement before workers in a vote on Thursday.
It is urging a rejection and says that it has lodged a protected action ballot today, which will allow staff to take industrial action.
“This dodgy agreement will force drivers, loaders and other distribution staff to work longer hours over more days for less pay,” TWU WA branch state secretary Tim Dawson says.
“It will ensure workers have no control over the days or hours they work.
“Tip Top are trying to exploit their workers in WA just as they have exploited their drivers in NSW.”