Strike at TNT Australia as union remains defiant
Workers at TNT Express Australia will strike tomorrow (Friday) after negotiations with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) broke down. Earlier today, officials from both parties met in an attempt to settle their differences before the industrial action begins, but a deal was not struck.
Now employees will push ahead with a series of four-hour stoppages across Australia on Friday, with workers also voting to impose an indefinite ban on the loading and unloading of vehicles operated by outside hire companies at all TNT sites on Saturday.
The industrial action was voted on by members last month and passed with an 88% majority.
A previous agreement will see employees receive an 8% rise of two years, but TNT and the TWU remain at loggerheads over the Union’s request for an extra 2% employer contribution to superannuation (pension scheme). The TWU is also demanding an increase in site rates for casual or labour hire employees.
In its latest offer to the TWU earlier today, TNT reportedly offered enhanced terms which included: leave arrangements for TWU delegates; the establishment of a National Safe Rates Committee; reductions in the Company’s conversion times for casual employees wishing to become permanent staff; and changes to Dispute Resolution Procedures.
TNT said it was “disappointed with the outright rejection of our genuine attempts to bring the current negotiations to a positive conclusion”.
Furthermore, TNT Australia’s managing director Bob Black claimed that a strike would affect the viability of TNT in Australia. He said: “Claims made by the TWU beyond the proposed wage increase could increase TNT’s annual operating costs by approximately $10m. Such costs are not sustainable and would put pressure on TNT’s viability within Australia”.
However, no sympathy was spared by TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon. He said: “This is a company that employs 4,500 permanent staff, but also pays the wages of over 3,000 casual and labour-hire employees. By not including a site-rate for the agreement, TNT is effectively refusing to include almost half its workforce in the negotiations and any improvements in the agreement.
“TNT has also refused to negotiate an increase in superannuation above the government-mandated 9% per annum. This is an industry that has physically demanding work where you cannot keep working until you are 65, with some analysts saying it will be 70 in the future. There needs to be a bit of give and take from the company on this and yet they have declined.
“On the whole, employees at TNT are outraged with the management’s attitude,” Sheldon concluded.
