MESSAGE FROM TIM DAWSON
Tippers Are Being Pushed to the Brink And It’s Time Clients Paid Their Share
New TWU Organiser Jay Patel and Tom Brennan rounded up more than 60 tipper truck drivers on Saturday March 28 , to talk to them about what it means to be union and the protections the TWU can offer th
They came from different backgrounds, spoke different languages, and worked across different parts of the tipper industry
But they all came with the same concerns
Base rates are too low. Fuel costs are skyrocketing And the pressure to keep working, no matter the cost, is pushing drivers to the brink
For two hours, drivers stood up and shared their stories These were not complaints They were real accounts of what it takes just to stay on the road right now.
These drivers cart sand for major road infrastructure operations, with some under Government contracts
Many spoke about operating without secure contracts, moving from job to job,
carrying the full cost of maintaining their vehicles, and now facing a fuel crisis that is leaving them with next to nothing in their pockets at the end of the week
Others spoke about the pressure they are under Pressure to complete more work than can realistically fit into already long hours
Pressure to cut corners Pressure to overload trucks beyond safe limits just to make jobs viable Pressure to work without taking a break just to make ends meet
This is not just unfair It is dangerous When drivers are forced into these conditions, it does not just impact them.
It impacts every road user in Western Australia
Right now, the companies at the top of the chain, the major contractors, developers and clients, continue to push costs down while expecting the work to be done
It should not be the driver at the bottom of the chain who absorbs the cost The clients who profit from this work have the capacity to carry it, and it is only fair that they do
A fuel levy is an immediate step that can provide some relief during this crisis
With recent laws passed by the Federal Government allowing the Fair Work Commission to direct transport clients to pay higher fuel levies to combat the current crisis, this is a welcome step and will help push companies to do the right thing
I have spoken with the Deputy Premier, Rita Saffioti, and we will be looking closely at government contracts to ensure that if a fuel levy exists, it is actually being passed on to the workers doing the job.
Because right now, too many drivers are carrying the risk while others take the reward.
Union Power:
The conversation on Saturday was not just about the problems It was also about power
Drivers spoke about what it means to stand together About solidarity. About the role the union plays in giving workers a voice and the ability to take protected action when enough is enough
Because when workers stand as one, they are relentless And that is how change is won
This year, the TWU is working to align more than 200 agreements across the country to lift standards and put an end to the race to the bottom that is dragging this industry down
We are recruiting more transport workers to be part of this fight, because real change only comes when workers come together and demand it
TWU calling on the Government:
A fuel levy is only a short-term solution.
What these drivers need, and what they have been calling for, is a long-term system that delivers fair, sustainable rates
Contracts that are clear, enforceable and reflect the real cost of doing the job Rates that include proper hourly pay, kilometre rates, and built-in mechanisms like a mandatory fuel levy
Most importantly, they need a system that stops the race to the bottom before it pushes safety over the edge
The TWU has heard these workers loud and clear
We have committed to taking their concerns to the WA Parliament and ensuring they are raised at the highest level. We will continue pushing for a standard that protects workers, keeps the public safe, and holds clients accountable for the real costs of the work they rely on.
Because when drivers are forced to choose between safety and survival, the system is broken And it is time to fix it
BILL TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ONGOING RELIEF FOR FUEL COSTS IN TRANSPORT PASSES SENATE
The Fairer Fuel bill, which has now passed through both Houses of Parliament, will allow the FWC to more quickly make orders requiring clients of transport— retailers,manufacturers and mining companies—to ensure that they pay the transport companies they use to cart their goods enough to cover these steep fuel price increases.
The transport industry coalition of TWU, ARTIO and NRFA will apply to the Fair Work Commission to assist drivers and transport operators with crippling fuel costs following the passion of the legislation.
With many drivers and transport operators at crisis point, there is no time to delay these orders, with an imminent risk of widespread business closures and increasing financial pressure on drivers to rush and delay vehicle maintenance without urgent action.
Already this year, 39 people have died in truck crashes on Australian roads, including 11 truck drivers, and transport company liquidations have shot up 48% from the last year.
We will work quickly with transport employers and industry bodies on an application for an order that can respond as this crisis develops, and which will save trucking businesses, keep drivers safe and safeguard our supply chains.
TWU members at company’s continued workers. After a
WORKERS UDDERLY FED UP
at Brownes have walked off the job in a 24 hour strike! This follows the continued refusal to compromise on fair and decent claims made by the five bargaining meetings with the TWU, Brownes is unwilling to reach a fair agreement on offering a wage increase that keeps in line with the rising cost of living, parental leave for workers, that is humane, and on job security, with less reliance on Labour hire workers.
Super security improves retirement wealth by 196%
Team Super, the super fund for transport workers, is a member fund of Super Members Council (SMC).
SMC advocates for the more than 12 million Australians who have over $1 .6 trillion in retirement savings managed by profit to member superannuation funds (like Team Super).
Recently, the SMC released research showing superannuation being the main driver to improving retirement wealth over the past 20 years. Excluding your home, this means middle Australians are around $256,000 better off in retirement thanks to their super.
Not only is compulsory super setting up hard working Aussies with a better retirement , but it has also greatly reshaped the economy thanks to the investment power of super funds who pool members’ savings for the long term, giving everyday Australians access to investment returns from companies, infrastructure and private markets.
Superannuation is no longer a promise about the future For many, it is already delivering the lift to living standards in retirement that it was designed to do
You can read the full report by downloading it here.
SMC are strong advocates for improving the retirement outcomes of working Australians, including lifting the low-income super tax offset so that around 1 . 2 million workers on lower incomes can get a fairer super tax cut From 2027, anyone earning $45k or less will receive a bigger super top up (going up from $500 to $810)
You can find out more about SMCs important areas of focus including stronger protections against scams for consumers via their website.
2026 our roads, our skies, our future
Photo petitions and claim endorsements continue as we gear up to enter our first negotiations for the 2026 fight!!
WATCH UPDATE FROM ASSISTANT STATE SECRETARY, SHANE O’BRIEN
TWU WA branch was visited by TWU National secretary, Michael Kaine!
On the 20 of March, Hundreds of TWU aviation workers walked through airports across the country to protest poor working conditions in aviation, centred around ground handler Swissport. th
Safety blitzes across the country have revealed alarming breaches within the company, and in Perth, Swissport was the only major ground handler that didn’t agree to meet with TWU to discuss our call for a heat policy across all ground crew.
Click the play button or scan the QRcode to watch the channel 7 news segment!
TWU aviation members and delegates from across the country spent two days of lobbying federal politicians in Federal Parliament about the urgent need to lift standards across Australia’s aviation industry.
TWU WA delegate Katrina represented WA alongside fellow delegates Kadison and NCC representative Kye.
TWU parcel delivery drivers lobbied at WA Parliament House this month, calling on the WA State Government to commit to supporting our campaign to vary the Owner Driver (Contracts and Disputes) legislation to include vehicles under 4.5 tonnes.
The last mile industry is one of the fastest-growing parts of the transport sector, With more people relying on online shopping and on-demand services than ever before. But while the industry is booming, many of the workers who make these deliveries possible are being left behind.
Right now in Western Australia, there is no legislation setting minimum pay standards for sub-contractor drivers and owner drivers operating vehicles under 4.5 tonnes. This means many last mile drivers are working without , while also being responsible for covering the full costs of
The reality is they are carrying the operational risks of the job without the fair
Click here and sign our pledge and support the TWU to vary the owner driver legislation to include vehicles under 4.5 tonnes.
MAY DAY 2026
Join the TWU and fellow unions in solidarity for a family fun day!
Enjoy great food, fun festivities, and most importantly stand together in our union march through the streets of Fremantle! FREMANTLE
SUNDAY 3RD OF MAY
KICK OFF AT 10AM
STEERING HEALTHY MINDS GRANT GOES PUBLIC!
The WA Cook Government has awarded funding to Steering Healthy Minds through the new Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Program Support Fund (2025–2029), which is aimed at preventing work-related suicide and improving psychological safety in high-risk industries like transport .
The $3 39 million fund, delivered by WorkSafe in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, recognises the critical role workplaces play in supporting workers’ mental health and will help expand targeted support programs across the sector
TWU VETERANS LUNCHEON
In March, we had the pleasure of hosting our TWU Veterans for a much-needed roast
We take pride in acknowledging the everlasting footprints these delegates have left within the union movement , paving the way for the great wins we continue to have.
