Truck drivers at Port Botany have won their long standing battle for facilities at the Port: our members leading the way on this issue which is a hot topic for truck drivers at ports around the country.

The guys stand staunch outside DP World

The TWU together with drivers at the Port has been fighting for facilities as basic as toilets for several years.

On 17 March our members held a successful action to bring attention to the issue, with a rally outside stevedore DP World at Port Botany.

Together with the union’s work in negotiating with the port authority, our members have now scored a win on the facilities front.

Sydney Ports have now committed to deliver for truck drivers at Port Botany:

•    Additional toilet facilities on Simblist Road: with temporary toilet facilities to be delivered 25 March  

•    A Truck Marshalling Area (TMA), which Sydney Ports have agreed will include:

•    Male and Female Toilets
•    Hot and cold water
•    Seats and tables
•    Shade

There will be commercial catering onsite for food and drinks, which Sydney Ports is working to organise. Sydney Ports are now completing engineering and feasibility works on a preferred TMA site which they hope to have up and running by November 2011.

We will be monitoring progress on these commitments on behalf of our members, and we look forward to seeing them fulfilled and the new facilities in place.

What our members have achieved here further demonstrates how we will succeed when we stick to our guns on issues important to us. Congratulations to all the drivers at the Port who made this happen.