TWU blames tight client margins and unrealistic delivery of collection schedules
Last week’s truck crash on Adelaide’s South Eastern Freeway is proof of the economic pressure imposed by clients on transport companies and their drivers, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) says.
TWU assistant secretary Ian Smith says tight client margins and unrealistic delivery of collection schedules puts pressure on the industry.
“It puts the industry on edge; we want to see a resolution of all these issues but we are aware it’s very important that a proper and thorough investigation is carried out of this incident,” Smith says.
“This is another example of pressures placed on the industry where the top end of town that control the rates in the industry are forcing good companies into situations that we’re seeing that result in tragic incidents where companies are cutting on maintenance.”
He says pressures could be addressed through the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), which the Federal Government currently is reviewing “with a view to close it down”.
“The current government should leave the tribunal to do the work; let’s stop the carnage on our roads and let’s make sure going forward in the future that we do not have tragic incidents like we’ve had and we are seeing happen far too often,” Smith says.
“Let the tribunal do its work, leave it alone and let’s move forward and let’s make everybody out there safe.”
Two people were killed in the Cleanaway crash and one injured last Monday.