Western Sydney truck drivers are leading the local community in rallying behind the TWU Convoy to Canberra for Safe Rates on 20 June, following reports that 431 people died in truck crashes in 18 months. Around 150 Western Sydney truck drivers are leading the convoy to Canberra and have spoken out in support of Safe Rates, urging the Western Sydney community to get behind the cause.

It will be an early start on Sunday for the crew from the West with a 5am BBQ at Minchinbury - organised by truck drivers Mark Trevillian of St Clair and David Andrew of Cranebrook - before heading off to join the convoy.

“431 people died on Australian roads in 18 months in truck crashes,” said TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno.

“This is a national tragedy. If this was the mining industry there would be a royal commission into these deaths. These are hard working people with families – and no one should have to die to make a living.

“Deaths in the transport industry make up 25% of all workplace deaths.

“We call for change now – for Safe Rates of pay in road transport to be legislated federally and enforced throughout the supply chain: from the head of the chain of responsibility – eg large corporate Client – to the end of the supply chain where multiple levels of contracting out at lowest cost with no safe rate lead to truck drivers being pushed to their limits, ‘dying to earn a living’ and unsafe roads for everybody.

“Safe rates must be legislated urgently – for the sake of the whole community. This will make the road safer for everybody.”

Western Suburbs truck driver David Andrew, of Cranebrook, tells it like it is:
“We urgently need safe rates now to clean up the industry, and keep everyone on a level playing field. Safe Rates will set out a minimum rate of pay. It has been proven that rates of pay for truck drivers are directly correlated with road safety, and the time for action is now.

“The truck crashes you see out there can be brought directly back to what drivers are earning. If they’re on a low kilometre rate they feel they don’t have time to rest because they need to put food on the table. They need to do the job in a certain amount of hours to make it pay enough to live on. This has to change now - for everybody who uses the road.”

The Federal Government via Industrial Relations Minister Julia Gillard are in support of Safe Rates -however the time has come to make sure urgent action is taken now for the sake of the whole community to bring this legislation in. “We urge Federal Parliament to support Safe Rates now for the sake of all Australians who use our roads,” Mr Forno said.

The TWU is leading a truck Convoy to Canberra on Sunday 20 June to call on the Federal Parliament to urgently implement Safe Rates now.

The Convoy is a family friendly community event and everybody is invited to Canberra to show their support. There will be activities for the kids, and a BBQ at the rally.

For more information on Safe Rates and Convoy to Canberra visit www.nswtwu.org.

ENDS
Media contact: Tanie Sansey 9912 0703 / 0410 525 869
Truck drivers from the suburbs below are taking part in the convoy:
 
ABBOTSBURY
ABBOTSFORD
ACACIA GARDENS
AGNES BANKS
AIRDS
ANNANGROVE
ARNDELL PARK
ASHCROFT
AUBURN
AVON
BALMORAL
BANKSTOWN
BASS HILL
BAULKHAM HILLS
BEAUMONT HILLS
BELIMBLA PARK
BEVERLY HILLS
BIDWILL
BIRRONG
BLAXCELL
BLAXLAND
BOW BOWING
BRINGELLY
BURWOOD HEIGHTS
CABRAMATTA
CAMBRIDGE GARDENS
CARRAMAR
CASTLE HILL
CASTLEREAGH
CASULA
CECIL HILLS
CECIL PARK
CHESTER HILL
CHULLORA
COLYTON
CONSTITUTION HILL
DENHAM COURT
EAGLE VALE
EAST HILLS
EAST HILLS
EMU HEIGHTS
EPPING
ERSKINE PARK
FAIRFIELD
FAULCONBRIDGE
GLENMORE PARK
GLENQUARIE
HAWSKEBURY HEIGHTS
KINGSGROVE
KURMOND
LAKEMBA
LIVERPOOL
LUGARNO
MERRYLANDS