August 29th 2024.
In an effort to secure stronger safety agreements for drivers, a large group of Transport Worker Union members have gathered at Aldi's headquarters in Sydney. Around 500 union members plan to hold a protest outside Aldi's Minchinbury head office today, with the goal of signing a charter on supply chain safety and demanding a transport enterprise agreement. They also hope to see supply chain safety included in the new transport reform laws.
While Aldi does employ some truck drivers directly, there is currently no legislative agreement in place to protect their pay, working conditions, and safety. This has been a growing concern for the TWU, especially as a number of workplace injuries and safety risks have been identified and fines have been issued by SafeWork. Sadly, truck and heavy vehicle crashes have been responsible for a significant number of worker deaths in Australia. In fact, the National Truck Accident Research Centre's Major Accident Report revealed that the road transport industry accounted for 21% of all worker fatalities between 2017 and 2021.
The TWU has taken action by utilizing the federal transport reform laws to push for change in the food delivery and last mile sectors. It is their hope that Aldi will join them in their efforts to improve supply chain safety in Australia. Michael Kaine, TWU National Secretary, has called on Aldi to "come to the table" and work with them on this pressing issue. He expressed concern over reports of worker injuries that Aldi has failed to address, stating that it is time for the company to listen to its workers and take action.
Despite the TWU's efforts, Aldi has seemingly been resistant to change. In fact, a spokesperson for the company has even stated that they are committed to the safety of their drivers. However, the TWU remains steadfast in their mission and has even used the new legislative powers available to them to bring about change in the transport industry. This includes calling on companies like Aldi to take responsibility for the safety of their supply chain workers. Kaine emphasized that they are willing to use these powers to their full effect in order to bring companies like Aldi in line with the rest of the industry.
In a similar vein, Australian gig workers have recently made the first application to the Fair Work Commission under the new transport reform laws. This further highlights the pressing need for change and the willingness of workers to take action. While Aldi has yet to respond to these recent developments, they have previously stated their commitment to driver safety. However, the TWU remains firm in their stance and continues to urge Aldi to take a more proactive approach in reducing the crisis in the transport industry. As Kaine put it, it is time for Aldi to be on the right side of reshaping the industry and working towards a safer future for all workers involved.
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