TWU: Fighting for Owner Drivers Rights
Owner Driver Campaign meeting
6:30pm , Wednesday 4th April 2007 at Quinn House 31 Cowper Street, Parramatta. Guest Speaker – Craig Emerson, Shadow Minister for Independent Contracting. For further information please contact Naomi Rowe on 9912 0700.
Independent Contractors Bill passed - See news updates
With John Howard's attack on working families set to get into full swing this year when his new industrial laws, including a direct attack NSW owner drivers through an Independent Contractors Act, come into force your TWU is gearing up the campaign to fight to protect you and your families hard won rights, entitlements and protections.
Under Howard's plans NSW owner drivers stand to lose their rights to an independent cost effective industrial relations system that sets minimum rates through contract determinations, protects drivers goodwill, and allows for effective dispute resolutions.
Under Howard's new laws, thousands of NSW owner drivers stand to lose millions of dollars in goodwill and the safety protections offered by a system of minimum rates that take safety out of competition.
Responding to these threats, your TWU and TWU owner driver members across NSW are determined to fight to make sure you keep your entitlements, goodwill and protections. And we're determined to win!
Despite Howard's Senate majority, your TWU has a campaign plan to do everything possible to make sure TWU owner driver
members rights and entitlements are maintained and protected. By taking up the fight with a series of actions last year, including on the Harbour Bridge and our Convoy to Canberra, members have already sent a message to the Government and employers that they are determined to fight until we win.
And with the ongoing support of members, delegates and by getting as many owner drivers across NSW as possible involved and signed up as TWU in the year ahead we can continue to be successful.
The five key areas of your TWU campaign for 2006 are:
- Lobbying
Continuing to lobby and pressure the Federal Government and politicians from all parties to step back from their attack on owner drivers.
- Industrial / Legal
Seeking support from our employers and principal contractors to guarantee our rights and protections in alternative legal arrangements, like Deeds.
- State Governments
Lobbying and putting pressure on State Government's to introduce alternative laws and protections to guarantee owner drivers rights, ie: Chain of Responsibility and Fair Contracts Legislation.
- Political
Directly targeting individual politicians and political parties to support policies and legislation that guarantee owner drivers protections.
- Publicity
Continuing to make the case for owner drivers rights and protections in the media and through direct public actions.
To make this campaign a success, however we need your help. We need you and as many of your workmates to get involved as possible.
And if you are not a TWU member we need you to join today!
For more information call your TWU on 9912 0700.
NEWS UPDATES:
Independent Contractors Bill Passed
The Independent Contractors Bill passed the House of Reps at 9:56 am Wednesday 13 September.
The following are comments made during the most recent debate on the bill and comments sent from members to the TWU. (Read some of the comments and emails)
Tooheys drivers could lose deal under new IR legislation
If the Independent Contractors Bill is passed without provisions for owner drivers the Tooheys brewery drivers could lose their contract, National Leader of the Transport Workers Union Tony Sheldon said today. (Read the full story)
Transport workers fight for road safety at
Senate Inquiry
Owner drivers giving evidence today at the Federal Government Senate Inquiry into the Independent Contractors Bill gave accounts of fearing for their lives after being pressured by clients to drive for hours without a break. (Read the full story)
Major Announcement Regarding Owner Drivers
This is a very significant decision by the Federal Industrial Relations Minister today and represents the protection of 30 years of bi-partisan support for NSW state laws.
(Read the full story)
Drive to Secure the Future on Hold
The announcement made today by Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews, that the Federal Government’s Independent Contractors Act will protect NSW Owner drivers, is the result of transport workers and their families fighting for 30 years for NSW state industrial law to be protected. (Read the full story)
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PROTECTING AUSSIE JOBS 
