From Transport Workers Union
TWU makes headway on truck driver facilities at Ports
By Wayne Forno
9 Apr, 2010
9 Apr, 2010
This week marked an important milestone in the TWU’s fight to get proper facilities in place for truck drivers at Port Botany. Ports Minister Paul McLeay met with TWU Delegates at the Port on Wednesday to discuss their concerns about the lack of the most basic amenities including toilets, water and food.
According to Delegate David Lemke, “We’ve got a billion dollar terminal, the company is making billions of dollars, and this doesn’t filter through to the workers. “Thousands of truck drivers come here every week and all we’ve got is one Port-a-Loo which is not clean enough to use – and no female toilet.”
Ports official Helen Bellette has been leading the long-running campaign to get truck drivers at the Port basic facilities including toilets, water, shower amenities, a canteen and parking bays for drivers who are out of hours and need a break.
TWU State Secretary Wayne Forno, MUA State Secretary Paul McAleer, RTBU State Secretary Alex Claassens and National Organiser Bob Nanva also attended the meeting.
Wayne Forno welcomed the Minister’s visit and said that having a Minister who is listening and in touch with the issues on the ground is a huge step forward in this fight.
“We look forward to getting some concrete news soon on what facilities our drivers will be getting, and when - and I’ll be keeping our members updated as soon as that happens,” he said.
Minister McLeay said he was looking into short, medium and long-term solutions to the problem to be announced in the near future.
The Minister voiced his support for the TWU in fighting for the Ports workers.
“I’ve come down to the Port to meet with truck drivers and officials to hear what their needs are.
“I’ll now go back and work to see how we can best achieve these for drivers.”
Media contact: Tanie Sansey 0410 525 869
Ports official Helen Bellette has been leading the long-running campaign to get truck drivers at the Port basic facilities including toilets, water, shower amenities, a canteen and parking bays for drivers who are out of hours and need a break.
L-R: RTBU State Secretary Alex Claassens, RTBU National Organiser Bob Nanva, Area Official Helen Bellette, Brad Sant (Delegate, ACFS), Area Official Rob Pirc, Peter Kritikos, MUA State Secretary Paul McAleer, Wayne Forno, Harry Smith (Delegate, P & O), Keith Stone (Delegate, Owens), Ports Minister Paul McLeay, Long Liu (Delegate, MCS), Allan Flynn (Sydney Ports), David Lemke (Delegate, Gregorys), Mick Minichiello (Delegate, MCS).
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Wayne Forno welcomed the Minister’s visit and said that having a Minister who is listening and in touch with the issues on the ground is a huge step forward in this fight.
“We look forward to getting some concrete news soon on what facilities our drivers will be getting, and when - and I’ll be keeping our members updated as soon as that happens,” he said.
Minister McLeay said he was looking into short, medium and long-term solutions to the problem to be announced in the near future.
The Minister voiced his support for the TWU in fighting for the Ports workers.
“I’ve come down to the Port to meet with truck drivers and officials to hear what their needs are.
“I’ll now go back and work to see how we can best achieve these for drivers.”
Media contact: Tanie Sansey 0410 525 869
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