Three-Year fight delivers Ports victory

After more than three years of campaigning, members at the Sydney Ports Corporation now have new facilities which opened at on Monday 25 June.

The fight for new facilities began three years ago when waterfront members were almost booked by the police for lining up on the road outside Sydney Ports, to get inside the terminal. 

“Port drivers were outraged that they could be booked, for something they had no control over. Something needed to be done and the TWU jumped in to help members fix the problem,” NSW State Secretary Wayne Forno said.

Members called a meeting with Sydney Ports Corporation, Botany Local Area Command, and the companies based at the terminals, to resolve the issue. While the main issue was allocating space inside the terminals to allow drivers to park their trucks at the facility, members took this as an opportunity to raise others concerns such as the lack of toilet amenities.

“TWU delegates asked Sydney Ports Corporation to provide, more toilet facilities and a place for workers to rest. The Ports aren’t just a parking lot, it is a workplace and therefore members should have the same facilities that are afforded to workers at any other workplace,” Mr Forno said.
Finally Sydney Ports Corporation provided workers the facilities they deserve. Members now have access to toilets, an area where they can sit as well as parking for up to 60 trucks.

Mr Forno welcomed the new facilities saying: “I congratulate all members for maintaining the fight for the new facilities and ensuring that the two companies kept their word.”