NSW TRUCKIES TAKE THE FIGHT ON SAFETY TO CANBERRA

Illawarra truck drivers handed a report on safety and rates of pay in the transport industry to Federal Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird, and asked it to be delivered to Canberra as part of a national campaign from the Transport Workers Union.

The Transport Workers Union recently held a Safe Rates Summit in Sydney, and they wanted to give politicians a chance to study the outcomes of that event, where a number of transport operators said there was a need for change in the industry.

Transport Workers Union Wollongong official, Lee Lawler, today said a large number of truck drivers and transport workers are living and working in the Illawarra area it was appropriate that Federal MP took up the case on behalf of her constituents.

“The TWU has been working for some time with governments at all levels in order to ensure there is a federal determination with minimum rates of pay for truck drivers,” Mr Lawler said.

Driver Francis Sharma told the media that the biggest problem for drivers was unpaid waiting times.

Ms Bird accepted the report and said she would pass on the report to parliament.
"We are a region, particularly having a major port and quite a bit of manufacturing industry, that actuallyhas a lot of tuck engagement on our roads," Ms Bird said.

Over the coming weeks, the TWU will be visiting major regional centres accross the state to push the message that truck drivers deserve a fair go.