SHELL SACRIFICE SAFETY FOR PROFIT AS THEY SELL OUT AUSSIE WORKFORCE
Multinational oil giant Shell is putting profit before safety and Australian jobs, making their road transport workforce redundant as they outsource the work.
“Shell are selling out their workforce – they had around 100 drivers Australia wide, some who had worked in these jobs for many years,” said NSW TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno.
“There have been a number of fatalities in the oil industry already this year, and in one year 287 people died on Australian roads in truck-related crashes.
“These multinationals hire transport companies to cut costs, and transport companies are at the mercy of the big oil companies – the contract goes to the lowest bidder, which forces the transport companies to cut costs by setting low rates of pay for their drivers.
“Federal Government research has shown the direct cause and effect relationship between low rates of pay and safety. The report found that drivers are forced to work dangerously long hours, putting themselves and the public at risk.
“No one should be forced to do this – they should be fairly paid for the job they do.
“In the case of small subcontractors it’s even worse – they are forced to save money by skimping on maintenance costs.
“Either way large oil conglomerates and retailers shirk their responsibility for this once they outsource, because it’s not their company that owns the truck or in the case of transport companies employs the drivers.”
In this round of redundancies, 18 Sydney truck drivers and 4 Newcastle truck drivers will lose their jobs with Shell and their functions will be outsourced. This has already happened in other states such as WA and in regional NSW centres such as Tamworth and Orange.
“When transport companies or subcontractors renew their contract, companies often attempt to negotiate lower rates of pay or give the contract to the lowest bidder – decimating safety standards on our roads,” said Mr Forno.
“If a contractor or subcontractor asks for a fair increase in rates they won’t get the contract, but the lowest bidder will, who has often not spent the money on maintenance or safety.
“It’s typical of large conglomerates to shirk their responsibilities for profit like this.
“They are never going to pay safe and proper rates of pay by their own choice – profit comes first. They only way to change this so we have safe working conditions in the transport industry and safer roads everybody is for the government to make and enforce safe rates legislation.
“The TWU is organising a truck convoy to Canberra on 20 June is part of our ongoing Safe Rates Campaign to make this a reality and bring our transport industry in line with other first world countries.”
The TWU is fighting to make our roads safe for everybody and make sure our truck drivers get the safe working conditions they are entitled to. Find out more and sign our petition HERE and talk to your local MP about taking a stand.
Media contact: Tanie Sansey (02) 9912 0703 / 0410 525 869
“There have been a number of fatalities in the oil industry already this year, and in one year 287 people died on Australian roads in truck-related crashes.
“These multinationals hire transport companies to cut costs, and transport companies are at the mercy of the big oil companies – the contract goes to the lowest bidder, which forces the transport companies to cut costs by setting low rates of pay for their drivers.
“Federal Government research has shown the direct cause and effect relationship between low rates of pay and safety. The report found that drivers are forced to work dangerously long hours, putting themselves and the public at risk.
“No one should be forced to do this – they should be fairly paid for the job they do.
“In the case of small subcontractors it’s even worse – they are forced to save money by skimping on maintenance costs.
“Either way large oil conglomerates and retailers shirk their responsibility for this once they outsource, because it’s not their company that owns the truck or in the case of transport companies employs the drivers.”
In this round of redundancies, 18 Sydney truck drivers and 4 Newcastle truck drivers will lose their jobs with Shell and their functions will be outsourced. This has already happened in other states such as WA and in regional NSW centres such as Tamworth and Orange.
“When transport companies or subcontractors renew their contract, companies often attempt to negotiate lower rates of pay or give the contract to the lowest bidder – decimating safety standards on our roads,” said Mr Forno.
“If a contractor or subcontractor asks for a fair increase in rates they won’t get the contract, but the lowest bidder will, who has often not spent the money on maintenance or safety.
“It’s typical of large conglomerates to shirk their responsibilities for profit like this.
“They are never going to pay safe and proper rates of pay by their own choice – profit comes first. They only way to change this so we have safe working conditions in the transport industry and safer roads everybody is for the government to make and enforce safe rates legislation.
“The TWU is organising a truck convoy to Canberra on 20 June is part of our ongoing Safe Rates Campaign to make this a reality and bring our transport industry in line with other first world countries.”
The TWU is fighting to make our roads safe for everybody and make sure our truck drivers get the safe working conditions they are entitled to. Find out more and sign our petition HERE and talk to your local MP about taking a stand.
Media contact: Tanie Sansey (02) 9912 0703 / 0410 525 869