Issuu

JULY MONTHLY WHEEL

A MESSAGE FROM TIM DAWSON

July has been a busy month, with delegates and organisers in the thick of enterprise bargaining negotiations, a protest condemning Aldi's unsafe supply chain practices, and demonstrations at Perth Airport standing against Swissport's dangerous working conditions.

TWU officials also attended the 2026 Labor Conference, where discussions continued around creating an independent aviation Coordination Council to oversee industry standards.

These achievements are a testament to the influence the TWU continues to have in shaping both public policy and political decision-making. And we are not stopping there.

The TWU is continuing to work closely with governments, regulators and industry bodies across Australia to address long-standing workforce shortages, improve safety standards and create sustainable career pathways for the next generation of transport workers.

One of the most significant developments is the work being undertaken by Industry Skills Australia (ISA), which recently released its 2026 Workforce Planning Updates and 2026 Transport Supply Chain Workforce Outlook.

The reports highlight the enormous challenges facing Australia's transport industry, including an ageing workforce, increasing infrastructure demands, rapid technological change and growing cost-of-living pressures.

As part of this work, the TWU is collaborating with Industry Skills Australia and state governments to support the development of a National Truck Driver Apprenticeship program designed to attract new workers into the industry while improving the retention of existing drivers.

The proposed framework focuses on four key areas:

- Improving public perceptions of the transport industry.

- Increasing the number of skilled heavy vehicle drivers entering the workforce.

- Strengthening training and licensing pathways.

- Retaining experienced workers through improved support systems.

Not only the training of people coming into the transport industry, but also the assessment of people entering the industry. Foreign drivers need to be assessed to make sure they have the skills to drive as well as understand the culture and environment of driving in Australia

The need for change is clear. Heavy vehicles are involved in approximately 16 per cent of road fatalities despite accounting for only 2.5 per cent of vehicle registrations.

Drivers continue to face significant challenges, including fatigue, inadequate training, unsafe practices, a lack of suitable rest facilities and increasing mental health pressures.

The apprenticeship model aims to tackle these issues head-on by strengthening education around fatigue management, load restraint, dangerous goods handling, licensing requirements, compliance obligations and broader workplace safety standards.

The program also recognises the need to create more inclusive workplaces, including improving facilities and amenities for women and multicultural workers operating along regional and remote transport routes.

Alongside these changes, discussions have also taken place around restructuring TAFE programs to further establish vocational education as a highvalue, non-university career pathway that offers strong earning potential, long-term job security and opportunities for career progression.

The proposed changes are designed to attract a broader and more diverse cohort of workers into the transport industry while helping to address ongoing workforce shortages across the country.

By ensuring apprenticeship and training programs are supported by experienced mentors, the industry will be able to safely welcome younger workers into the profession while equipping them with the knowledge, skills and support needed to build longterm careers in transport.

With the support of the Federal and WA Labor Government’s, the TWU is optimistic that Western Australia will soon along with other states be implementing apprenticeship trials supported by industry that will help attract, train and retain workers.

These initiatives represent much more than workforce planning. They are about ensuring the transport industry remains safe, sustainable and attractive for generations to come.

Because when transport workers succeed, Australia moves forward.

2026 LABOR CONFERENCE

Last week , Transport Workers' Union representatives from across Australia gathered in Adelaide for the Australian Labor Party National Conference.

The conference delivered a number of major commitments for transport and industrial workers, showing what can be achieved when working people organise and have a voice at the decision-making table.

Here's what was announced:

Rebuilding Australia's Aviation Industry: Following years of campaigning by TWU members, Labor has committed to establishing an Aviation Industry Coordination Council to help rebuild the industry and lift standards

Ending Sham Contracting: Labor has committed to strengthening enforcement against sham contracting in road transport to protect workers and create a fairer industry.

More Bargaining Power for Workers: Labor has committed to strengthening workers' ability to bargain collectively, extending workplace protections and ensuring working people have a stronger voice when negotiating for better wages and conditions

Stopping Employers from Using Extended Lockouts: Labor has committed to changing workplace laws so employers cannot use lengthy lockouts to punish workers taking protected industrial action, helping create a fairer bargaining system for working Australians. These commitments didn' t happen by chance They are the result of transport workers and union members standing together and campaigning for change

SECRET HARBOUR LABOR CANDIDATE

Click /scan here to watch our candidate video of Georgia Tree and her goals for secret Harbour

PUTTING A STOP TO THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM!

The race to the bottom, which Alan Joyce’s Qantas started, continues! Last month, airports across the nation were hit by TWU aviation workers.

As the world's most isolated capital city, Perth relies on its airport more than almost any other city to stay connected and keep the economy moving.

Despite that, it’s Perth that is bearing the brunt of the race to the bottom with wages that are often far lower here than the rest of the country.

Just last year, dnata ground handlers walked of the job, taking strike action because they were paid up to 30% less than workers over east doing the exact same job.

In Perth, Virgin have outsourced ground handling operations to Swissport, despite all other state airports employing in-house Virgin staff. In Perth, they have outsourced to the lowest of the low.

Virgin can afford to in-source on the east coast, so they can afford it in the West.

Enough is Enough!

SENDING A MESSAGE TO CLIENTS

TWU members across the country took part in coordinated protests last month, sending a clear message to Aldi and other wealthy clients at the top of the supply chain: it's time to be accountable for a fair, safe and sustainable transport industry.

While major retailers continue to reap massive gains, transport operators and owner-drivers are left dealing with razor-thin margins to move their goods. It's time those with the greatest commercial power take responsibility for lifting standards across the industry.

TWU has identifed serious safety concerns in Aldi’s supply chain, including vehicles that were not properly maintained, in some cases leading to workers being permanently injured, truck rollovers and potential underpayments, including workers employed full-time but only paid if there was enough work.

But these are not isolated incidents, these are deeply rooted issues that are happening right across road transport and are signs of an industry that is under increasing commercial pressures from wealthy clients who sit at the top of supply chains.

This is why The TWU has aligned more than 200 enterprise agreements to expire this year, so we can take action and repair the transport industry.

REPORT BACK MEETINGS, NEGOTIATIONS AND PAB VOTING IN FULL SWING

VOTING

IS NOW

OPEN

The TWU is growing stronger at PFD Kalgoorlie!

This month, our South West Organiser met with members on site to talk about the issues they're facing at work and what they want to see from bargaining.

Members are signing pledge cards and making it clear they're ready to stand together and fight for an agreement that delivers fair pay, safer jobs and real job security

The yard is now at 90% union density and read to take action if PFD do not come back to the table

FedEx has FedEx refused to agree to your endorsed claims and listen to workers with their substandard offer that’ll send workers backwards.

It’s now time to send a strong message to FedEx by voting YES on the Protected Action Ballot (PAB) - attacks on conditions will not be tolerated!

TWU members at Linfox are standing united!

Linfox members aren't asking for the world, they're asking for fair and reasonable increases to their wages and conditions that reflects the nature of their work.!

TWU Gold Star members unanimously signed pledges this month to take the necessary action required to secure a fair agreement.

After three meetings with the company, Gold Star management are standing firm on their disrespectful claim they've made against their workers

CEHCK OUT OUR QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIONS FLYER FOR CONCERNS AROUND SIGNING YOUR PAB YOU VOTED NO TO A DODGY DEAL!

AND WILL CLOSE 3:00PM, AUGUST 20

NOT SURE ABOUT FILING YOUR PAB?

click the flyer or scan the QR code below to read more

TWU BUS MEMBERS DISCUSS SAFETY

ISSUES WITH THE TRANSPORT MINISTER

TWU bus drivers met with the Transport Minister and Deputy Premier's office, as well as the executive director of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) this month to share concerns relating to turnaround times, security on buses, pedestrian and driver safety, amenities, anti-social behaviour and security screens.

Each member took the floor to share their personal experience as a bus driver and what they would like to see changed across the industry.

The meeting ended with a commitment from the PTA and the ministers office to look into improvements to communication of safety issues, turnaround times to ease driver stress, improving amenities and to address hot spots for rocking throwing and antisocial behaviour

BUS DRIVERS ARE CALLING ON THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT TO RECTIFY SECURITY CONCERNS ON BUSES BY IMPROVING AVAILABILITY, INCREASING SECURITY CARS, INCREASING COVERAGE, AND TO ENSURE THAT BUS SECURITY OFFICERS HAVE THE SAME POWERS AS TRANSIT GUARDS.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN OR SCAN THE QR CODE

Later in the month, bus drivers met with the minister for police about rock throwing and safety concerns with Bus organiser Chris Gibbs, and TWU Politcal Strategist Eloyise Braskic.