TWU News Summer 2015

SAFERATES
SHAME O
We won’t go away and we’ll do whatever it takes in our fight for Safe Rates. Over 100 transport workers
rallied outside while 10 marched into Coles and stayed until they were arrested during our peaceful protest.
The contrast on November 12 could not be more glaring
– in Sydney’s West over 100 transport workers marched
on Coles Parramatta to demand the retail giant end their
relentless pressure on truckies and 10 were arrested, while in
Perth, Coles was celebrating their billion dollar profits earnt
off the backs of truckies at their AGM.
TWU NSW Secretary Michael Aird said the contrast was
obscene and it grew day by day.
“Coles’ $1.78 billion profit is covered in the blood of
Australian truck drivers,” Michael said.
“How can Coles’ Managing Director John Durkan
celebrate billion dollar profits and his own huge pay packet
knowing that they have contributed to the 213 truck crash
related deaths so far this year?”
Michael said that though breaches of regulations were
uncovered earlier this year, Coles had taken no action and
the squeeze on truckies, a proven contributor to crashes, had
continued.
“Coles have been calling us liars and ignoring all the
evidence we gave them, so while transport workers rallied
outside, 10 of us marched into Coles and refused to leave
until they took responsibility for their lethal actions in their
transport supply chain,” Michael said.
“Even when the police came we refused to move because
Coles only cares about money – we disrupted their money
making to get their attention.
“We had a huge amount of support and encouragement
from Coles’ customers and the public during our protest,
with many vowing to shop elsewhere in the future after we
explained what the company was doing.
“Ten of us were arrested during this protest but we all
agree it was worth it. If that’s what it takes to get Coles
to take road transport deaths seriously and to stop putting
Aussie truckies’ lives at risk, then we’ll keep disrupting their
business and we’ll keep getting arrested.”
TWU NSW Assistant Secretary Richard Olsen said that
Coles’ parent company Wesfarmers proudly announced that it
TWU NSW State
Secretary Michael Aird
will do whatever it takes.
IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET COLES
TO TAKE ROAD TRANSPORT DEATHS
SERIOUSLY AND TO STOP PUTTING AUSSIE
TRUCKIES’ LIVES AT RISK, THEN WE’LL
KEEP DISRUPTING THEIR BUSINESS AND
WE’LL KEEP GETTING ARRESTED.
– MICHAEL AIRD.
had reduced its freight costs by $13 million, despite the fact
that this squeeze was contributing towards making trucking
Australia’s deadliest profession.
“This is an extra $13 million out of the low cost contracts
in transport that already put operators under pressure to skip
breaks, driver faster, drive longer with over-loaded vehicles in
a stressed and tired state,” Richard said.
“Coles are notorious for the pressure it puts on truck
drivers – it brings the whole industry down. Their never
ending demands keep putting the safety of our truckies and
road users at risk.”
Truck driver and delegate Pieter Rietkerk said that the
pressures truckies faced everyday were very real.
“Driving a truck can be a great job but there are serious
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