Truck drivers at JJ Richards & Sons’ Sunshine Coast depot granted the right to bargain for an enterprise agreement
By Brad Gardner | October 8, 2010
Truck drivers at JJ Richards & Sons’ depot north of Brisbane have won the right to bargain for an enterprise agreement after the majority signed a petition requesting it.
Fair Work Australia granted the application this week after the Transport Workers Union presented an application signed by 35 of the 38 drivers at the Sunshine Coast depot
Representatives for JJ Richards did not attend the hearing, but Commissioner Ian Cambridge says the waste removal company did not oppose the application.
“Unfortunately there was no appearance by or on behalf of Richards and the TWU was apparently advised only shortly before the commencement of the hearing that the application was not contested,” Commissioner Ian Cambridge says.
Under the Fair Work Act, a determination to allow enterprise bargaining can be made if the majority of employees want it. Any agreement must be better than the minimum award conditions.