Thousands of FedEx workers will conduct initial two-hour work stoppages this Friday as the company refuses to guarantee protections against AI and automation, and continues to shift good, secure jobs to contractors on dangerously low piece rates.
Last week, workers overwhelmingly voted up industrial action by 91%, giving potentially thousands of workers the legal right to walk off the job for initial two-hour strikes, with further action on the cards without a fair offer from the company.
Workers have been left with no option but to take protected industrial action to secure jobs, with FedEx shifting work to contracted drivers on piece rates, forced to deliver a parcel up to every 4 minutes.
Safe and secure work in Australia's deadliest industry remains under attack from the 'Amazon effect'. Amazon's exploitative Flex model engages workers in delivery "blocks" on below-minimum wages and conditions, undercutting responsible operators and driving an industry crisis that pressures companies such as FedEx to strip away decent work.
This year 118 people have died in truck crashes, 28 of those truck drivers. In Australia's deadliest industry, lowering standards puts workers and every road user at risk.
Thousands of other transport workers are now voting on industrial action across more than 200 agreements. Companies and major clients including Linfox, Bevchain and Team Global Express have stepped up and worked with employees and their union to lift standards. The TWU is calling on FedEx and other outliers to step up and secure decent, fair jobs into the future.
Transport Workers' Union National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"FedEx workers are standing up for their families, their communities and the future of the transport industry.
"These are the people who keep Australia moving, getting food, medicine and other critical supplies to communities across the country. They are asking for nothing more than secure work, a safe job and the certainty that they can provide for their families.
"FedEx workers can see exactly where this leads. Amazon fuelled an industry crisis by turning decent transport jobs into insecure, low-paid, algorithmically managed work, and FedEx is choosing to go down that path instead of standing with responsible Australian operators.
"Workers do not take strike action lightly. They know families and businesses rely on the supplies they move every day. But they also know that when wealthy companies squeeze jobs and safety, workers, their loved ones and the wider community pay the price.
"Some transport companies and clients have stepped up, listened to workers and helped build better standards. FedEx must decide whether it will join the responsible companies taking the high road or keep helping Amazon drag this industry down.
"The door remains open. FedEx can come back to the table and reach an agreement that gives workers confidence in their future, protects the families who depend on these jobs and helps make transport safer and more sustainable for everyone."
Notes
– FedEx workers vote down agreement: FedEx workers voted against an offer from the company with no job security protections to stop their work being further outsourced, and no future of work provisions
– Other efforts to lift industry standards: The TWU has also made several applications, using laws passed by the Albanese government, to lift road transport standards, including in parcel delivery and the gig economy.
– Widespread transport insolvencies: In the last financial year, there were 813 insolvencies in road transport
– 2021 FedEx strikes: In 2021, FedEx workers went on strike in a job security battle, as FedEx had started moving work to lower-paid contractors
