A Newcastle press conference will take place on Wednesday 21 April, to launch a massive truck convoy to Canberra for Safe Rates and remember the 287 people who died in truck related crashes last year in the leadup to International Workers Memorial Day, held annually to raise awareness of and prevent workplace deaths.
LAUNCH OF TRUCK CONVOY TO CANBERRA AND INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
Posted in:
TWU NEWS,
Convoy news,
NEWCASTLE,
FREIGHT
By Wayne Forno
NSW Secretary
Transport Workers Union
19 Apr, 2010
By Wayne Forno
NSW Secretary
Transport Workers Union
19 Apr, 2010
“This Wednesday we’ll set up hundreds of crosses in the Newcastle CBD, in memory of these people,” said TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno.
“International Workers Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead and fight for the living – for everybody who uses our roads, because road safety is everybody’s business.
“Hundreds of thousands of people die in workplace ‘accidents’ worldwide – and the trucking industry is the most dangerous industry in Australia.
“Truck drivers are 25 times more likely to die at work than the rest of us.
“We will continue, in Newcastle and around the state, to fight for people who work in our industry and for everybody who uses the road, by pushing the Federal Government to implement Safe Rates.
“Safe rates mean safer roads for us all.
“Under Safe Rates legislation, truck drivers will be paid fairly for their work and won’t be forced to speed or drive for days at a time with wealthy retailers and multinationals calling the shots regardless of the safety implications.
“Last year 287 people died on our roads in truck related crashes. We need to stop this now. One more is one too many.
The Transport Workers Union will be leading a massive convoy of trucks to Canberra on 20 June to call on the Federal Government to implement Safe Rates.
A press conference will take place in Newcastle at 10am on Wednesday 21 April to officially launch the convoy in Newcastle, to coincide with Newcastle delegates voting to join the convoy and with the upcoming International Workers Memorial Day.
TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno will speak at the press conference together with local TWU member Geoff Jones, of Blackalls Park, who will be presented with life membership and has worked in the industry for 37 years.
The press conference will take place in Newcastle CBD at a location to be announced before the event.
The public is invited, and encouraged to come along to find out more about Safe Rates and sign the petition. Look out for the crosses on the day and media updates on the location before the event.
More information on Safe Rates and the 20 June Convoy to Canberra can be found HERE
Media contact: Tanie Sansey 9912 0703/ 0410 525 869
More information on International Workers Memorial Day 28 April: http://www.actu.org.au/Events/WorkersMemorialDay2010.aspx
“International Workers Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead and fight for the living – for everybody who uses our roads, because road safety is everybody’s business.
“Hundreds of thousands of people die in workplace ‘accidents’ worldwide – and the trucking industry is the most dangerous industry in Australia.
“Truck drivers are 25 times more likely to die at work than the rest of us.
“We will continue, in Newcastle and around the state, to fight for people who work in our industry and for everybody who uses the road, by pushing the Federal Government to implement Safe Rates.
“Safe rates mean safer roads for us all.
“Under Safe Rates legislation, truck drivers will be paid fairly for their work and won’t be forced to speed or drive for days at a time with wealthy retailers and multinationals calling the shots regardless of the safety implications.
“Last year 287 people died on our roads in truck related crashes. We need to stop this now. One more is one too many.
The Transport Workers Union will be leading a massive convoy of trucks to Canberra on 20 June to call on the Federal Government to implement Safe Rates.
A press conference will take place in Newcastle at 10am on Wednesday 21 April to officially launch the convoy in Newcastle, to coincide with Newcastle delegates voting to join the convoy and with the upcoming International Workers Memorial Day.
TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno will speak at the press conference together with local TWU member Geoff Jones, of Blackalls Park, who will be presented with life membership and has worked in the industry for 37 years.
The press conference will take place in Newcastle CBD at a location to be announced before the event.
The public is invited, and encouraged to come along to find out more about Safe Rates and sign the petition. Look out for the crosses on the day and media updates on the location before the event.
More information on Safe Rates and the 20 June Convoy to Canberra can be found HERE
Media contact: Tanie Sansey 9912 0703/ 0410 525 869
PRESS CONFERENCE: CROSS DISPLAY TO COMMEMORATE ROAD DEATHS, INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY AND NEWCASTLE LAUNCH OF MASSIVE TRUCK CONVOY
WHERE: NEWCASTLE CBD – LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE EVENT
WHEN: 10 AM, WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL
WHERE: NEWCASTLE CBD – LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE THE EVENT
WHEN: 10 AM, WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL
More information on International Workers Memorial Day 28 April: http://www.actu.org.au/Events/WorkersMemorialDay2010.aspx