A transport workers’ alliance has been formed to better protect employees against supply chain stress
Union bodies and associations are joining forces to form an alliance that seeks to protect the transport industry and supply chain sector in the face of external pressures.
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) says it is combining with the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) and the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) to make a Retail Supply Chain Alliance (RSCA) that represents workers throughout supply chains from farms to stores.
The TWU says that lockdowns and weather events have been compounded by the federal government refusing to listen to workers, leading to the RSCA being created with a set of supply chain safety principles that it presented to parliament.
The RSCA’s principles calls for free rapid tests for all supply chain workers, the regulation of the gig economy to protect secure jobs and the mandatory consultation with workers on policy changes that may disrupt supply chains.
The creation of the RSCA comes after Australian transport workers have been threatened by global companies like Amazon Flex that undercut drivers according to the TWU.
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The TWU says that national secretary Michael Kaine and state secretary Richard Olsen joined other transport union representatives to discuss the global fight for safe rates as well as the importance of road safety and recovering after COVID.
“With global threats like Amazon Flex and other undercutting players, these partnerships are crucial and the success of Australian transport workers in fighting for a fairer industry is inspiring other workers across the world,” the TWU says.
“We will continue the fight to create supply chains that are fairer and safer. Transport workers have always been prepared to speak truth to power and that’s never been more important than now.”
The TWU says the RSCA has been formed due to the federal government not adequately responding to the needs of transport workers.