The TWU has warned that an announcement from the Victorian government Victorian government that it will move to implement a "two-strike" rule for taxi and rideshare drivers unfairly targets workers without getting to the root cause, and has stressed the importance of reform that will instead lift the industry for both passengers and drivers.
The TWU said without overarching reform, both passengers and drivers-both of whom are often vulnerable members of the community-will continue to experience poor outcomes in the taxi and rideshare industries.
55% of rideshare drivers have faced threatening and abusive behaviour on the job. See full report.
The TWU is in consultation with members to use new laws passed by the Albanese government to apply for decent national minimum standards in the rideshare industry.
The TWU continues to push for state legislation to back up Federal transport reform laws, to be able to balance areas like rideshare and taxis which fall to the states.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"This is thoughtless demonising of transport workers who in the vast, vast majority of cases are just trying to do their jobs, often for under minimum wage and under deadly pressure. Though there is no excuse for any form of discriminatory behaviour, we cannot ignore the issues of harassment and poor behaviour faced by drivers themselves.
"Coalition governments ignored the gig tsunami as it rushed in obliterating standards. "This absence of regulation in the gig economy has failed both passengers and workers, often particularly vulnerable members of the community.
"Until now, rideshare drivers have had no access to workplace rights like a minimum wage, leave or superannuation. They have little to no protections when things go wrong-55% have faced threatening and abusive behaviour on the job. Many have also been "deactivated" from an app by an algorithm, which until recent new laws kicked in, was often with no reason given and no way to appeal.
"Federal laws brought in by the Albanese government are key to allow us to begin addressing this. We are working with rideshare members to begin formulating an application using these laws and improve pay and conditions for drivers who currently have no minimum standards.
Notes
- In 2024 Queensland introduced amendments to its Industrial Relations Act to provide increased protections for transport workers
- NSW has recently introduced reforms to long-standing protections under its own Industrial Relations Act that will allow for improved standards for gig workers and transport small businesses
