Comments from Road Transport Forum CEO wide of the mark

Media Release: Transport Workers Union of Australia

Friday May 24, 2013

Comments from Road Transport Forum CEO wide of the mark - TWU

Comments from the NZ Road Transport Forum demonstrate a complete lack of leadership on truck driver safety, Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) said today.

Yesterday Road Transport Forum CEO Ken Shirley told Morning Report that the TWU’s twenty year campaign for Safe Rates legislation was simply about boosting union membership.

The comment follows a call from New Zealand’s union for truck drivers, FIRST Union, for New Zealand to follow Australia’s lead and bring in stronger laws to ensure truck drivers do not have remuneration-related incentives to work in an unsafe manner.

TWU Assistant National Secretary Michael Kaine said Ken Shirley’s statement was a complete diversion.

“For over 20 years Truck drivers, their families and people from right across Australia fought to establish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. Comments like those made by Ken Shirley this morning display nothing but contempt for the thousands of hardworking drivers on both sides of the Tasman who are forced day in and and day out to push their limits to make ends meet,” Michael Kaine said.

“The TWU campaign for ‘Safe Rates’ achieved world first legislation that will make the road transport industry fairer for road transport drivers and our roads safer for all Australians.”

“The Road Transport Forum would be better placed to front up to a responsible debate about the best way to ensure truck drivers in New Zealand can return home safely to their families after a day at work.”

“The ‘Safe Rates’ legislation, and the Tribunal it established, is tasked with tackling the root causes of the lethal pressures on truck drivers – excessive client pressure, which result in dangerously low rates of pay, unpaid waiting time and impossible delivery schedules.”

“Responsible employers in Australia are doing the right thing and are working with the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal to make a difference across their supply chains.”

“To deny there is a direct relationship between pay and conditions for truck drivers and safety on our roads displays a lack of leadership on driver safety.”

“We strongly encourage the heavy vehicle industry in New Zealand to play a more responsible role in considering this as a possible tool to help make New Zealand’s road transport industry fairer and New Zealand’s roads safer.” Michael Kaine said.

Ends.

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