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The Amazon Effect is smashing good jobs in road transport and creating an industry that is less secure and more deadly.
Through their exploitative sham contracting arrangements which operate outside our industrial relations system, the likes of Amazon and Uber are undercutting the industry and forcing other operators to attack their workers to remain competitive.
Gig economy exploitation forces workers to drive longer, take less breaks and take more risks.
Trucking is already Australia’s deadliest industry – on average, one truck driver dies on the job every 10 days.
Our roads will only get more deadly if the job security and safety conditions transport workers rely on are ripped out from under them by the Amazon Effect.
A survey of around 250 Amazon Flex drivers has revealed serious safety concerns, bullying by management and pressures to rush.
- 73% are concerned about their cars being overloaded.
- 51% are pressured to rush on deliveries.
- 1 in 6 raised concerns about bullying and lack of respect from Amazon management.
- Low pay was workers’ second biggest concern, after safety.
Amazon’s track record
Since Amazon arrived in Australia, it has already shown its anti-union, anti-worker tactics.
The company has:
Called police to block the TWU from inspecting conditions
Sacked dozens of drivers after they’d spoken to the TWU
Failed to train workers on safety
An ABC investigation also revealed more of the shocking conditions at Amazon. You can watch the video here.
We cannot allow the likes of Amazon to keep dragging down standards in road transport.
The Federal Government must act
Companies, owner drivers, employees, contractors and gig economy workers are all calling for a transport reform to set enforceable minimum standards across the transport industry.
Regulation like this would stop the Amazon Effect in its tracks.
The Federal Government must act soon to stop the race to the bottom that is threatening the entire transport industry.
Workers and the community need a fairer and safer transport industry.