A beleagured Coles hits out once again at the TWU claiming the union is pushing for wage rises rather than improving road safety
By Anna Game-Lopata | July 26, 2012
Coles has hit back once again at suggestions its control over the supply chain has reduced safety on the nation’s roads.
A spokesperson for the beleaguered retailer tells SupplyChain Review Australian Bureau of Statistics releases on road safety show a downward trend in overall and heavy vehicle fatalities.
“The Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) claims are unfounded, and are more about pushing for wage rises than improving road safety,” the spokesperson says.
“If the TWU have any actual evidence of road safety breaches, they are obliged under law to report them to the authorities.”
“Coles takes safe transport practices very seriously,” the spokesperson adds.
“Our transport business is managed by large and reputable providers including Linfox and Toll, who are very proud of their safety record.
“In no way do our transport contracts with such companies force drivers into unsafe or illegal practices.”
Meanwhile the TWU today challenged Coles to a public debate on the continuing high number of deaths and injuries from truck crashes across the country.
The union claims there is a huge safety crisis on our roads caused by the major retailers.
It backs its argument using figures
from the latest ‘Fatal heavy vehicle crashes in Australia’ quarterly bulletin, which shows between July and September 2011, the number of deaths from truck crashes increased significantly in two states.
The bulletin, published by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport in April, shows in South Australia, deaths increased by 75 percent while in Queensland deaths increased by 22.6 percent.
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon says Coles needs to stop “quibbling” and sit down and work with unions and government to solve the problem.
“I challenge Coles to a public debate to put all of these issues on the table,” Sheldon says.
“We are not afraid to debate the facts. We have had more than 20 years of cross party reports, inquiries and coronial reports which have identified the link in the transport industry between safety and rates of pay.
“The dangerous conditions and excessive hours demanded by major retailers such as Coles are directly responsible for the carnage on our roads.”
Earlier in the week, a group of former truck drivers kicked off a new TWU campaign targeting the supermarket giant in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
Drivers handed out flyers accusing Coles of using its economic power to drive down safety standards in the transport industry and to squeeze its suppliers.
“An average of 330 people are killed and more than 5,300 are injured each year on our roads as are result of heavy vehicle incidents,” Sheldon says.
“This crisis on our roads is devastating families and communities and costs the Australian taxpayer more than $2.7 billion each year.”