Following the Federal Government passing the Fairer Fuel bill to fast-track emergency applications in road transport, the transport industry including large retailers, manufacturers and mining companies will convene in the Fair Work Commission at 10am tomorrow on fuel costs currently crippling drivers and transport operators.
The TWU, as well as peak transport employer body ARTIO, and NRFA, have jointly called for action to assist drivers and transport operators:
- March 16: Initially called on Fair Work Commission to urgently bring the transport industry together
- March 23: Then called on Federal Government to pass laws to allow urgent Fair Work Commission orders in road transport, to expedite the process
- April 2: Once laws were passed, TWU and ARTIO (supported by NRFA) made an emergency application in FWC to call for fuel costs to be paid by the retailers, manufacturers and mining companies at the top of the supply chain, calling on Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth to use new emergency powers to expedite the process
The conference tomorrow will hear from several drivers and small trucking businesses currently at crisis point, some having to consider closing their businesses if they are unable to recover their fuel costs.
With common payment terms in the industry 3 weeks from the beginning of the month, FWC orders are critical before 21 April when owner drivers and transport operators will be facing fuel bills up to tens of thousands of dollars higher than usual, which would push their businesses off a cliff and create huge supply chain issues.
The application calls for transport clients-retailers, manufacturers and mining companies-to conduct weekly fuel reviews pinned to prices as published by the Australian Institute of Petroleum (AIP), and for these costs to be paid by clients and passed down through the whole supply chain.
Already this year, 45 people have died in truck crashes on Australian roads, including 14 truck drivers, and transport company liquidations have shot up 48% from the last year.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine:
"Owner drivers, small business owners and gig workers will tell the Fair Work Commission tomorrow that they're weeks away from going out of business.
"Drivers who've been in this industry for decades have never seen it this hard. It is critical that we see fuel costs paid for by the top of the supply chain-the retailers, manufacturers and mining giants that are already increasing costs for customers, while truck drivers and businesses are struggling to hold on.
"The new emergency powers passed by the Federal Government are allowing the industry to come together and quickly put in place systems to help drivers and transport businesses survive through this crisis."
ARTIO National Secretary Peter Anderson
"We know there are transport clients out there doing the right thing and making sure they pass down fair fuel relief. But there are far too many still refusing to pay their fair share. Transport businesses small and large are weeks away from shutting up shop, if they haven't already. We urgently need to see clients putting in place weekly fuel reviews to keep national supply chains running sustainably, and businesses in operation."
NRFA President Glyn Castanelli:
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel for the transport industry, and that's the prospect of having skyrocketing fuel costs paid for by the top of the supply chain. That's what we need to see as a result of this Fair Work Commission process, so that transport businesses can keep running and getting supplies around our nation."
