There are still many industries in Australia where women do not share the same access to opportunities. This is not good for women, businesses, families, workers, or our State.
The UnionsWA Workplace Gender Equality Project is tackling the causes of inequality and developing practical solutions to make workplaces in WAās male-dominated industries safer, fairer, and more inclusive
Weāre asking all workers from the WA energy, transport, and construction industries to share your thoughts and experiences through a survey that will help us build better and fairer workplaces.
WORKPLACE GENDER EQUALITY PROJECT SURVEY
The UnionsWA Workplace Gender Equality Project is funded by the Australian Governmentās Advancing Gender Equality in Gender Segregated Industries grant. The project aims to address gender inequality in male-dominated industries in Western Australia so these workplaces are fairer for everyone.
This survey gives you the opportunity to share your workplaces experiences and the results will help us to build practical tools and training which can be used by workplaces.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and we welcome responses from people of any gender. We ask questions about who you are as we know people of different backgrounds experience workplaces differently.
You may complete the survey anonymously or you may share your contact details with us. Any data collected will be held strictly confidential and de-identified. We will not share your confidential survey responses with anyone without your express consent.
Content warning: This survey references some issues that some people may find challenging such as gender-based violence and sexual harassment.
UnionsWA is on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja, at 445 Hay Street Perth.
TWU WA WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Kerren Campbell for winning 2025's 'TWU WA Woman of the Year 2025' Kerren Campbell was recognised for her dedication, leadership, and tireless commitment to making a difference in her yard and across the union movement. Kerren has made an impact at her site, advocating for more women's amenities and her work with the Anna Stewart program in 2024.
The award is testament to the incredible impact Kerren has made for the union movement, and the advocacy Kerren displays to ensure the best conditions at her yard for your workmates. Kerren proves every day that even in a male dominatied industry women can lead, inspire, and drive real change in the transport industry.
Well done Kerren, keep up the good work
TWU SAFETY COMMITTEE
ENDORSE PTA SAFETY SCREEN
TRIAL
The TWU member-led Bus Safety Commitee met with PTA management on Wednesday 13 August to inspect the first bus fitted out with the new safety screens.
The initial inspection was positive with members of the committee supporting:
ļ the perspex screen
ļ a reduced glare on the screen
ļ left handside mirror not impacted
We are expecting that 12 buses fitted with the screens will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks including:
ļ 6 at Swan (including regional yards),
3 at Transdev and
3 at Path
A QR code can be scanned that will link to a survey for drivers where you can express your opinion about the screens.
Make sure that you have your say as these screens will improve the safety of WA buses and we want to get them right!
As they roll out in the next few weeks, we're saying to bus drivers, "if you havenāt had an
opportunity to drive one yet, contact your TWU delegate who will be able to assist with making sure you get an opportunity to test the screen".
UNIONS SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES OF AI AND PROTECTING THE FAIR GO
Australian Unions are continuing to pursue regulatory guard rails to steer the future rollout of Artificial Intelligence in workplaces.
The ACTU hosted a symposium on Artificial Intelligence on Wednesday 3rd of September, in Canberraās Parliament House, with Melbourne Universityās Centre for Employment and Labour Relations and the Centre for Future Work.
Workers across finance, transport, health, education, creative industries and the tech sector shared how AI is affecting the way they work, how their employers are treating them, and how it is changing their industries.
Ride share drivers, actors and performers, retail workers, nurses, bank employees and software developers were at the symposium calling for a pro-job pro-worker agenda to give workers a stake in the gains from AI while being transparent and fair.
Assistant Minister for Science Technology and the Digital Economy, Dr Andrew Charl-
ton and Industry and Innovation Minister, Tim Ayres addressed the symposium.
The Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition and Treasury, Dr Andrew Leigh spoke on a panel on making the most of AI as part of a productivity agenda.
Australian Unions are calling for fair safeguards that would require employers to consult with their staff before new AI technologies can be introduced into workplaces.
AI agreements would include guarantees around job security, skills development and retraining, transparency over the use of AI technology, as well as genuine
privacy and data collection protections. Workers are also calling for the protection of their creative output from content theft and for regulation of AI through a National Artificial Intelligence Authority.
TWU members at Parliament speak with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about our industry
IF WE DONāT FIGHT,
WE GET DNATA!
TWU members working at dnata have walked off the job twice this month, demanding dnata come to the table and negotiate a fair, safe agreement.
Perth dnata workers are the lowest-paid dnata workers in the country, earning far less than their eastern states counterparts, despite doing the exact same job.
These workers are fighting for:
ļ Fair wages that close the gap with dnata workers in the east ā Same Job, Same Pay
ļ Better roster flexibility
ļ Retention of night soil allowance
ļ Secure jobs
ļ Increased Parental Leave
Perth dnata workers have made their position clear: they will not accept a sub-standard deal.
After an emphatic 79% āNOā vote on dnataās first attempt, and two powerful strike actions, dnata is again forcing the same broken agreement to a vote on September 4 ā this time with an even worse wage offer. Thatās not negotiation, thatās disrespect.
To make matters worse, dnata are attempting to bribe their workers with a measly $500 'bonus' (before tax) if they vote yes to their sub-standard agreement.
With the Agreement going out to vote on Thursday the 4th of September, the TWU urges dnata workers to vote NO and send dnata a powerful message.
Perth dnata workers are united, determined, and ready to fight until they win the fair agreement and the respect they deserve.
METROLL ON STRIKE
In the morning of the 21st of August, TWU members employed by Metroll walked off the job for a 24 hour strike.
This esculation came as Metroll refused to accept a fair wage offer, a commitment to safety, and to give delegates rights at work.
"In transport, safety is crucial and should always be top of mind. My workmates are worried something will go wrong and there won't be any structures in place to protect them," a TWU metroll member shared.
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES TO COME
RESOURCES FOR OWNER DRIVERS
WAās Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) has made available on their website a range of resources to help owner-drivers know their rights, negotiate contracts and run their business successfully.
A key feature is guideline rates of payment and an interactive online ācost calculatorā tool to help owner-drivers clarify business costs and ensure they donāt underquote.
The online resources are the result of extensive consultation between DTMI and the Road Freight Transport Industry Council ā which comprises owner-drivers, hirers, the community and government.
Council member and TWU State Secretary Tim Dawson says the potential for exploitation of owner-drivers was a perennial issue.
āThere has historically been an inequity
in the bargaining positions of owner-drivers and hirers,ā Dawson says.
āOwner-drivers are the most vulnerable and least protected sector in the industry.
āThe sector is often characterised by low-level earnings, high rates of business failure, and working conditions any other industry would consider unacceptable.
āThe goal has always been for safe and sustainable rates for owner-drivers in the road transport industry.
āThereās also an expectation from regulators that heavy haulage drivers operate safely.
āBut unless owner-drivers are paid reasonable rates, the pressure on them to cut corners to compete in the high-cost environment in which they operate will continue.ā
IN-PRINCIPLE AGREEMENT
REACHED AT MARTIN BROWER
The TWU member-led bargaining team met with Martin Brower management last week for their fourth bargaining meeting and secured an in-principle agreement.
Thanks to the members' hard work and dedication, they've achieved:
ļ 15.91% increase over 3 years
ļ 14% superannuation by 2028
ļ Retention of income protection (which was attempted to be taken away by the company)
ļ Overtime paid at time and a half from 2 hours, and double pay thereafter
ļ Time and a half for hours worked on Saturday
ļ Double pay for hours worked on Sunday
Congratulations to the members at Martin Brower. From here, the company will review the new draft of the EA, and once all parties accept the final document, Martin Brower workers will vote on the agreement.
$90 MILLION PENALTY
LARGEST EMPLOYER PENALTY IN CORPORATE HISTORY
In the largest employer penalty in Australian corporate history, Qantas has been ordered to pay $90 million for illegally outsourcing 1,800 workers.
A massive congratulations to every worker who fought for justice over the past five years. Against all odds, TWU members have sent a $90 million warning to corporate Australia: you canāt break the law and get away with it.
Qantas must now take responsibility for the ongoing crisis in its supply chain, starting with deadly pressures and safety breaches at Swissport.
SIGNIFICANT QANTAS PROFITS SHOULD BE RE-INVESTED BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE: SAYS TWU
In light of Qantasā underlying profits before tax of $2.39 billion, the TWU is calling on the airline to take concrete remediation steps by properly funding decent jobs for workers in its supply chain, where companies like Swissport are suffering up to 400 safety reports a month in some ports, and pilots in the Qantas group are continuing industrial action over an offer that would put them towards the bottom of the industry.
The financial results follow a Federal Court ruling that Qantas must pay a record penalty of $90 million for Australiaās largest ever case of illegal sackings, after it agreed to a separate $120 million fund to compensate the affected workers.
Justice Leeās decision on the penalty took into account Qantasā āwrong kind of sorryā for the outsourcing, the company having argued the workers should receive no compensation at all following the High Court's ruling.
Workers in Qantasā supply chain at companies like Swissport are still struggling with low pay, insecure jobs and safety issues, as well as plans to introduce invasive video and audio surveillance to silence workers.
Qantas group pilots at Express Freighters are continuing industrial action over an offer from the company that would put them at the bottom of the industry, and entrench poor work-life balance.
our roads, our skies, our future 2026
As we begin setting the course for 2026,over 200 agreements across road and aviation will expire together for the first time ever. Thatās 60,000 workers across the roads and skies ready to take action for better pay, stronger job security, and sector standards.
In 2021, thousands of transport workers fought for better pay and job security ā and won. Since then, weāve had another round of bargaining with more wins across the industry.
Now, in 2026, we have an even bigger opportunity to close the gap, improve job security, and shape the future of transport. But to pull it off, we need every member on board.
With wealthy clients like Amazon and Aldi dragging down standards, itās time they pay their fair share for decent jobs to protect your job from being undercut.
The rise of automation, AI and the transition to net zero makes one thing clear: transportworkers must be at the centre of these changes, consulted every step of the way.
Surveys will be coming out at sites across the transport industry as we begin building your claim and preparing for a fight on a massive scale.
MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL SECRETARY MICHAEL KAI
This is our chance to end the race to the bottom, close the gap, and ensure the future of transport puts workers at the forefront ā not just profit.
Because when we fight, we win.
In 2026, over 200 agreements across road and aviation will expire toge time ever Thatās 60,000 workers across the roads and skies ready to ta p
In 2021, thousands of transport workers fought for better pay and job security ā and won. Since then, weāve had another round of bargaining with more wins across the industry.
RALPH ROTH IS RETIRING
Now, in 2026, we have an even bigger opportunity to close the gap, improve job security, and shape the future of transport But to pull it off, we need every member on board
TWU members from the past and present gathered at the Kewdale tavern to celebrate Ralph Roth's retirement from the transport industry last week.
With wealthy clients like Amazon and Aldi dragging down standards, itās time they pay their fair share for decent jobs to protect your job from being undercut.
After more than 30 years in the transport industry, Ralph is hanging up the keys on a great career, that all started with deliveries for the old Swan Brewery.
The rise of automation, AI and the transition to net zero makes one thing clear: transport workers must be at the centre of these changes, consulted every step of the way
Itās time to bargain again Tell us what matters most, so we can win it, together
"He's a good bloke, an even better unionist and an alright truck driver!" joked TWU WA Branch President Ray, Macca McMillan. "But honestly, old Ralphy is one of the best blokes you'll meet. He is always fighting for the underdog, and you know you have a close friend on your side when Ralph's involved."
We send our best wishes and congratulations to Ralph on a job well done and thank him for all the work he's been a part of for the TWU, both as a workplace Delegate and as a loyal BCOM member.
