Thank you and congratulations to all our TWU members who turned up on Sunday last week to be a part of our May Day 2026 march!
2026 is a big year for the TWU! With over 200 enterprise agreements expiring, TWU members have shown they are prepared to show their true union power across the country.
This year, May Day was a true testament to the strength and determination our members will maintain during 2026 negotiations.
May Day traces its roots back to one of the most significant achievements of the labour movement – the establishment of the eighthour workday
In the 1800s, Australian workers endured gruelling conditions, often working up to 14 hours a day, six days a week There were no entitlements like sick leave or annual leave, and employers had the power to dismiss workers at any time without justification.
They carried banners displaying the ‘888’ symbol, representing their demand for a balanced life – eight hours of work, eight hours of leisure, and eight hours of rest
Since then, May 1 has become an internationally recognised day of remembrance and celebration of the achievements of working people and our fight for fairness, safety, and dignity.
Since this landmark day, other entitlements and conditions have been won, including more wages for extra hours worked as well as penalty rates
This year, we cast our minds back to May 1, 1946, when 800 Aboriginal pastoral workers across the Pilbara walked off the job in the height of the shearing season
More than 20 stations were left vacant, sparking what would become the longest industrial strike in Australian history Despite arrests, intimidation and relentless pressure from station owners, the strikers refused to back down
ars later, the Pilbara Strike stands as a ng moment in the struggle for Aboriginal , dignity and self-determination As we this anniversary, we honour their ge, the power of solidarity and their ring legacy in the fight for fairness, safety
Earlier this year, I spoke about sham contracting, a serious issue that is part of the bigger problem of compliance.
Over the past few months, the TWU has been gathering information from members who are concerned about the lack of compliance on WA roads
If you or someone you know might be on a sham contract and aren’t sure, fill out our survey or reach out to the TWU head office https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DTCT67T
Click or scan the QR CODE to take the survey
THE ISSUE:
We all know the trucking industry is the deadliest industry in Australia
Heavy vehicles are involved in 15-18% of road fatalities, despite making up just 2-3% of registered vehicles
At the same time, truck drivers are often not at fault, this points to deeper, systemic failures within compliance that must be addressed
The risks of the transport industry are closely linked to compliance, enforcement, industry standards and pressure from clients at the top of the supply chain.
Heavy vehicle compliance and roadworthiness, fatigue management practices and load restraint compliance are measures put in place to keep companies and operators accountable
Instead, we have seen a growing number of unlicensed or unclassified drivers or vehicles operating on our roads without the proper compliance in place to stop them before it’s too late.
Watch Tim’s last address on sham contracting here:
THE SOLUTION
The TWU has long called for coordinated, intelligence-led enforcement that targets the root causes of unsafe practices, including exploitation, poor training, and operators cutting corners to stay competitive
That’s why the TWU has been working hard with departments including WorkSafe, Main Roads, WA Police and the Department of Transport to ensure compliance checks are regular and our roads are kept safe and our members safe
After a meeting with Ministers at the beginning of April, the Government announced they would invest $339 9 million into road infrastructure and compliance enforcement to improve safety on WA roads and to crack down on exploited workers driving with the wrong licences
There has been a renewed focus on heavy vehicle compliance, with a roll-out of compliance blitzes across regional WA led by Main Roads
This is essential, especially for vehicles carting dangerous goods through our Goldfields and Pilbara regions
We believe that the WA Accreditation system is one of the best in Australia, but unfortunately, it has lacked proper oversight, and breaches simply haven’t been investigated properly, because the regulatory framework hasn’t been there
This crackdown is welcome, but enforcement alone won’t fix the problem
We need to lift standards across the entire industry, including driving training and assessment of foreign drivers
The TWU has also established an incident reporting tool on our website under WA compliance to give members a platform to report their concerns so the TWU can investigate.
Drivers continue to face long hours, fatigue, isolation and increasing mental health pressures, all of which directly impact safety outcomes on the road.
But safer roads depend on a safer system and that means enforcement, standards and conditions all working together.
MAYDAY 2026 MAYDAY 2026
APRIL WA FUEL UPDATE APRIL WA FUEL UPDATE
As tension continues in the middle east, keeping fuel costs up, the TWU WA branch has continued to advocate for transport workers through government enquiries and lobbying to ensure key transport supply chains and the workers that keep them going are able to do so sustainably, safely and under the right conditions.
On April 2 , the TWU welcomed an announcement by the Cook Labor Government to enact emergency powers to monitor fuel supply chains to ensure regional WA is receiving enough fuel
Then, on April 7 , the Cook Labor Government went a step further, announcing it would offer additional support to regional airlines and allow 53.5m road trains to travel along Great Eastern Highway.
On April 14, Transport Workers Union WA State Secretary Tim Dawson, Premier Roger Cook and Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation, Amber-Jade Sanderson took a walk through Coogee Chemical’s fuel depot and storage facility, which is expanding its capacity as part of the Federal Government's Strategic Diesel storage program
The WA Government announced that day, that four million litres of diesel is set to arrive in the coming weeks as part of a strategic stockpile to address acute, localised fuel shortages across WA
With WA the largest state in Australia, it’s a welcomed comfort to know
Scan the QR CODE or click here to watch our video of the day!
APRIL FUEL UPDATE APRIL FUEL UPDATE
SUB-CONTACTORS AND OWNER DRIVERS
On April 16th, Tim Dawson, TWU WA State Secretary, visited TGE IPEC to talk to members about fuel concerns and other issues important to them
Right now, sub-contractors and owner drivers are doing it extremely tough during the fuel crisis
We will continue to push for transport clients to pass on fuel levies set by the Fair Work Commission to help combat skyrocketing fuel costs It is through your stories, and through voicing your concerns that the TWU can take action We will keep talking to our members and we will continue to collaborate with the WA Government to keep WA supply chains moving.
TAXI DRIVERS AND RIDESHARE DRIVERS
The next day, Tim Dawson spoke on ABC South West radio about the pressure on taxi drivers and rideshare drivers during this fuel crisis
Click the image to listen to the interview or scan this QR CODE!
Click the play button or scan the QR code to watch Tim’s video to owner drivers
On April 20 , The Fair Work Commission (FWC) handed down a landmark order, requiring clients of transport retailers, manufacturers and mining companies at the top of the supply chain to conduct fortnightly fuel reviews and pay enough for owner drivers and transport businesses to cover skyrocketing fuel prices th
Regional Bus drivers win big!
Bus drivers have walked away from the Fair Work Commission with a strong result, securing the penalty rates they were denied!
Drivers were told no buses would run on ANZAC Day, and those rostered for the weekend were removed from shifts without consultation costing them their weekend penalty rates.
Today, the union fought back and won.
Drivers will now receive their Saturday penalty rates in their next pay, equating to an additional 1 2% on a weekday shift to make up for the lost income
Work continues on the TWU's Road To Respect campaign to force fair wages, safer buses and fair conditions for all WA bus drivers.
Next Month, as we head into 2026 negotiations, we are recruiting as many TWU members as we can, building power as bus depots and across the state.
Same job same pay for labor hire at Brownes
Labour hire workers at Brownes will now be paid the same as directly employed logistics workers when doing the same job, thanks to a recent win at Brownes dairy through the Fair Worker Commission!
For too long, casual labour hire workers were paid a base rate as little as $25 65 an hour, while Brownes employees were earning a base rate of $36 50 for the exact same work
That race to the bottom stops now
This is a huge win for hardworking TWU members at Brownes, who have been undercut for far too long by labour hire companies paying cheaper rates, despite their workers doing the exact same work, and for labour hire workers who have been underpaid for too long
This outcome comes off the back of strike action taken by members last week. But the fight is not over, with Brownes still refusing to come to the table and negotiate a fair agreement.
ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS ENGAGING WITH MEMBERS
WELLINGTON STREET INTERSECTION
The TWU has launched a new campaign to improve safety for bus drivers and the public in the Perth CBD
At the intersection of William, Wellington and Barrack Streets, unsafe crossing conditions are putting lives at risk
Over the past two years, this intersection has seen two fatalities and 14 recorded incidents involving buses and pedestrians, with multiple serious injuries
Drivers are being forced into dangerous situations due to poor intersection design and conflicting traffic and pedestrian flow
The TWU has come up with a raft of solutions, but we need TWU members and the public to help us put pressure on the WA Government to make these changes, by signing our petition
The urgency is only increasing with the opening of the new ECU City campus, which will bring significantly more pedestrian traffic into the area.
Traffic signal adjustments, like longer amber lights
NOTHING BEATS A GOOD BBQ
Nothing beats a good BBQ and a chat with our members.
On April 13, TWU WA State Secretary Tim Dawson and Bus organiser Chris Gibbs, were out in Lakelands connecting with local members, hearing what matters most and strengthening our union on the ground.
With fuel costs rising, it's more important than ever to meet members where they live, so they can stay informed and get the most out of being a TWU member
Our roads, our skies, our future!
scan the QR code or click here to sign the petition
International Workers Memorial Day International Workers Memoria
On April 28 , the TWU took part in International Workers' Memorial Day, standing outside Cleanaway Malaga to honour the five workers killed at Cleanaway sites across Australia in just two years.
th Five deaths in two years is five too many Eight deaths since 2022 is jaw dropping
Workers deserve to go to work and come home safe No job should cost a life
Scan above or click here to watch Tim’s address:
TRAINING DELEGATES FOR THE 2026 FIGHT! TRAINING DELEGATES FOR THE 2026 FIGHT!
This month, the WA branch held our T1 and T2 training sessions for delegates working across the entire transport sector
From retail companies, to bus drivers and Major road transport companies, TWU representatives answered member queries and concerns, and educated delegates on their role in our 2026 fight recruit as many members as possible
TWU Toll lead delegates brushed up on their training at the end of April in the lead up to 2026 bargaining for their National Enterprise Agreement
Toll members are bargaining for more consultative processes when implementing AI, improved leave conditions and alignment to 2029 to maximise their industry power
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Do You Know Your Entitlements?
There are 11 minimum employment entitlements that apply to all employees in Australia under th 2009.
These standards cannot be reduced by awards, agreements, or contracts and are called the National Employment Standards Click below to read through these standards to ensure your are receiving all of your employee entitlements. National Employment standards
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