We’ve joined comrades around the world to take up fights in trucking, warehousing, aviation and the gig economy. Through our affiliation with the International Transport Federation, we join over 20 million transport workers in a collective fight for fairness in transport. National Secretary Michael Kaine was recently elected the ITF Asia Pacific Road Section Committee Chair. Former National Secretary Tony Sheldon has been Chair of the Road Transport Section of the ITF for five years, which has seen him take the fight for Safe Rates across the globe. Safe Rates are now being fought for and won in every continent.
A key focus for the ITF and affiliates in 2019 is attacking the ‘Uberisation’ of work, a campaign which echoes the TWU’s fight for transport workers in the on-demand economy.
The fight for Safe Rates is making strides across the world. There is no better example than the legislation won by our sister union in Korea, the KPTU-TruckSol. Korean truck drivers and supporters stood together in a massive show of force and won minimum rates for the container and concrete sectors by 2020. Our comrades continue to fight for industry-wide Safe Rates.
Jetstar is using a loophole to exploit Thai international crew on domestic flights, allowing them to pay crew as little as $100 a week. Not only was the company paying them poverty wages, the crew also weren’t trained on safety procedures including domestic check in or aircraft equipment, and reported being forced to work 20 hour shifts.
In 2018 we stood with the US Teamsters against the horrific conditions forced onto workers at XPO, a US-based global shipping giant. We protested at their Sydney office against shameful reports coming out of the US including widespread sexual harassment, deliberate misclassification of truck drivers, and even the death of an employee when she collapsed at work without treatment.
The TWU joined the global campaign against Qatar Airways’ anti-worker and anti-women workplace culture and practices.
TWU, ride-share drivers and delivery riders fight back against tech companies
Transport workers are fighting for a fairer, safer industry. Join them today and secure your future.