Transport Workers' Union of Australia - TWU

For the first time ever, gig workers lodged the first application to the Fair Work Commission under new transport reform laws — a moment for the history books 🎉 This is a huge milestone towards making gig work safer and fairer for all. Congratulations to our members, whose fight made this historic day possible. Join the TWU today and be part of the change!

Airline workers are getting together to fight the race to the bottom. A big welcome to the mighty TWU to the masses joining at ramp and cargo, the numbers speak for themselves. It’s the biggest we have seen in over a decade. Branch Secretary Mem Suleyman, Branch Assistant Secretary Dissio Markos and TWU Officials were out among hundreds recently getting the ground crew future-proof and ready. We have a big plan and it’s coming together. If you're an airline worker, tell us your thoughts today: twuaus.com/Aviation-Survey

The Transport Workers Union's long battle for compensation for 1700 workers who were illegally sacked by Qantas in the middle of the pandemic resumes in the Federal Court today. Qantas sacked the workers when they were stuck at home during the pandemic to prevent them from exercising their right to bargain collectively. Transport Workers' Union of Australia - TWU is seeking full compensation for economic loss and other harm caused by the sackings. Qantas argues that the sacked workers should get no compensation. We're proud to stand alongside the union and the employees in this important case.

Our Closing the Loopholes Bill brings Australia’s Fair Work system firmly into the 21st century.   Australians have always believed in a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay. We’ve had 120 years of an industrial tribunal to set minimum wages.   However, the rise of gig workers like Mugdha and Zhaoying have revealed cracks in our system.   Zhaoying told me she received a mere $80 for 100 hours of work and was blacklisted by her platform when she spoke out.   Mugdha was left unconscious after being hit by a car. Without access to workers comp, she was forced back to work in chronic pain.   Her distressing story is shared by too many delivery workers.15 workers have tragically lost their lives on the job since 2017.   Food delivery should never come at the cost of worker safety or a living wage.   And Australia should be a nation where workers don’t have to rely on tips just to survive.   It's thanks to advocates like Mugdha and Zhaoying and their unions, that we're updating Fair Work's powers to cover gig workers.   It's about time.   United Workers Union, Transport Workers Union - TWU, Fair Work Commission, Tony Burke, #closingtheloopholes

The fight for transport reform (including the Amazon Effect and payment terms for truck drivers) made front-page news last Friday. “For the first time, the Fair Work Commission will be able to take a holistic view of complex contract chains, from top to bottom and side to side, and find the right balance,” said TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine. “It has the ability to tackle the Amazon effect – where economic power is concentrated with wealth at the top, and standards are dragged out from underneath by exploitative gig competition. This system will level the playing field, and that’s why the industry wants it – because the industry will shape it.” Mr Kaine said elongated payment terms were “as common in transport as the F word”, transferring all the financial risk onto those with the most to lose. “Thirty-day payments – or perhaps even shorter – is a quick fix that can keep businesses afloat, and one we’ll be working with industry to make on day one of the legislation,” he said.