SEPTEMBER MONTHLY WHEEL
NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH TRANSPORT IS THE DEADLIEST INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA NATIONAL STRIKES TAKE THE COUNTRY BY STORM September has been a whirlwind of a month. Off the back of our largest national strike in history, the TWU WA Branch has continued fighting alongside members at the bargaining table, with negotiations continuing across companies including Sadleirs, Bridgestone, FedEx, QGS, Centurion and SCT.
FedEx puts its vote out for a third time! Furthermore, FedEx put its agreement out for a third vote, members stood strong and voting it down three times. This is the type of strength and resilience that wins stronger wages and respect in the workplace. Over the past two months, TWU members have not relented in their mission to hold clients accountable for the unsafe conditions they create, while making enormous profits and ignoring workers' pleas to be paid wages that keep pace with the cost of living and allow them to have a decent quality of life. Speaking of quality of life, we now enter one of the most important months of the year for every transport worker: National Safe Work Month.
While some of these companies have now moved towards in-principal agreements, locking in stable wage increases that will make a real difference for workers and help close the gap between retail and major transport companies, for others, the fight has been much harder.
This year's theme is "Safety is everyone's business."
Goldstar negotiations are being voted on by members, meanwhile, In-Principal Agreements have been signed for retail company PFD, and at all major transport companies except for FedEx, including Linfox, Toll, TGE and Ceva, just to name a few.
STEERING HEALTHY MINDS NATIONAL SECRETARY: EMMA FLYNN
Court custodial workers at Ventia have finally secured an agreement after more than two years of negotiations, followed by an In-Principal Agreement with G4S. The Fight at Qantas The fight at Qantas remains gruelling. Last week, TWU members shut down airports across the country, sending a clear message to management at the same time former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce released his memoir, which has reportedly sold an abysmal 2,448 copies.
I want to take a moment to reflect on how being a Health and Safety Representative can quite literally save someone's life. Not too long ago, TWU SCT delegate Kerren Campbell used her power as HSR to shut down the floor.
Our TWU WA Steering Healthy Minds National Secretary Emma Flynn has included some signs to be on the lookout for if you are worried about someone at work or just in everyday life. seeming unusually quiet, or withdrawn appearing more irritable, or frustrated than usual having noticeable changes in behaviour struggling to concentrate, make decisions, or complete usual tasks missing shifts, or arriving late often changes in sleep, energy, appetite, or personal care losing interest in hobbies, or social activities using alcohol, or other drugs more often to cope talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, like a burden, or that things will not improve giving away possessions, saying goodbye unexpectedly, or talking about death, or self-harm One sign on its own does not necessarily mean someone is experiencing a mental health problem but if you notice concerning changes, check in privately, listen without judgement, and encourage professional support. If you’re worried someone may be in immediate danger, contact 000 or a crisis service straight away. Mental Health First Aid training gives people the confidence to recognise when a workmate may not be okay and to respond early with appropriate support. Steering Healthy Minds has trained over a thousand transport workers to help their peers and encourage access to professional help. This month, let's look after ourselves, look after each other and remember that every worker has the right to go home safe.
NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH
TRANSPORT IS THE DEADLIEST INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA HOW TWU SCT DELEGATE KERREN CAMPBELL USED HER POWER AS HSR TO SHUT DOWN THE FLOOR AT SCT
“New management had been making lots of new changes without any consultation with workers and how it would affect them. Workers were upset about things they had heard, which included assessments that could see them receiving a lower pay and having to do jobs they were no longer able to do. This caused a lot of stress where workers were visibly upset causing them to take time off work and to go home upset.” “It was the main topic on the floor that morning, therefore their minds were not on the job, making it unsafe to operate machinery. So, I called a stop work order under section 85 of the health and safety act to cease work for unsafe reasons. I had all forkies on afternoon shift meet in the lunchroom to get management to come and explain what was going on, but instead, management came out and ordered us all back to work and accused me of calling an illegal stop work meeting.” I just repeated the section of the health and safety act, while the workers remained steadfast in their seats (so proud of them).” Management made a call to the state manager and then came back into the room and told me to meet him in the head office. On my way there I spoke with my Organiser Rob from TWU. The outcome of the meeting was that the company agreed to consult with employees on future changes, and if they were suitable to all, including start time changes. I now also have fortnightly meetings with senior management to discuss any concerns the employees have, and to provide feedback on things already raised to try and prevent this type of stress from building to this point again.”
NATIONAL SAFE WORK MONTH
TRANSPORT IS THE DEADLIEST INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA That is what being a Health and Safety Representative is about. It is about having workers on the ground who know the job, understand the risks and are prepared to speak up when something isn't right. We should remember the serious safety failures we have seen across transport, including at companies like Cleanaway, where workers and members of the public have suffered permanent injury and death. No worker wants to be responsible for someone being seriously injured or killed. But when workers are pressured to cut corners, rush jobs or ignore safety procedures, companies and clients have a responsibility to make sure work is being done safely and workers and the public are protected. On Father's Day last year, a Qantas baggage handler was crushed by a conveyor belt. Bus drivers deal with antisocial behaviour every day. Aviation workers are raising concerns about radiation exposure, while women in transport continue to face harassment, discrimination and bullying. Long-haul and heavy-haulage drivers are also travelling through areas known to contain asbestos. None of this is what transport work should be about. Every worker deserves to finish their shift and go home safely. So, this National Safe Work Month, I am asking every transport worker to stop and take stock. Get that health check-up you've been putting off. Get that issue that has been nagging you assessed. Speak to your HSR, or start advocating for one. Raise the hazard you've been worried about. Stand up for someone you feel is struggling. Don’t wait until something goes seriously wrong before you speak up. Safe work doesn’t stop at physical hazards. Mental health is just as important. In Unity, TWU WA State Secretary Tim Dawson.
SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOU
PTA ACTS TO MAKE BUSES SAFER ROAD 2 RESPECT CHANGING THE INDUSTRY Concerns raised by TWU delegates about the public being able to access the engine through a hatch on the outside of the bus ahve led the PTA to move to retrofit engine hatch locks across the diesel bus network. It’s a practical safety improvement that will help prevent antisocial members of the public from interfering with critical controls and give drivers greater protection when dealing with dangerous or antisocial behaviour.
This is what happens when workers speak up, delegates take action and employers listen.
! CK O L ON
Read the full story here
ARE S R E K R O W WA
click Busting for Change to sign the petition AND show us where you go below
West Australian unions are calling on the WA State Government to reform workplace health and safety regulations to make sure that every worker in WA is treated with fairness, dignity and respect. No worker should have to rely on luck to access clean and safe toilets and other essential amenities at work.
40,000 WORKERS, ON
On September 10th, 2026, thousands of transport workers took strike action together at the same time across australia. The biggest coordinated industrial attack on transport clients in TWU history! Here is WA, workers from SCT, Goldstar, FedEx, PFD, K&S, and Sadleirs came together to send a clear message to transport companies and their clieints: We will not stop fighting until the standards of transport are lifted.
WATCH VIDE OF THE ACTI HERE NOW!
NE COLLECTIVE VOICE FedEx workers stood strong and walked off the job for the second time as part of the National Day of Action.
"
FedEx is punishing workers for standing up for their rights instead of coming back to the table with a fair offer.
out the impact on our FedEx told my guys to think ab locked us out ey th en Th .... e. rik st on go e w customers before for a futher 24 hours!
EO ION
Chemtrans
"
PFD IN-PINCIPAL AGREEMENT REACHED WORKERS HAVE WON: Job security with strong ratios
Wage increases with backpay to close the gap
Parental leave, distaer leave and future of work protections
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PFD MEMBERS, THIS RESULT WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOUR UNITY AND STRENGTH TO PRESSURE THE COMPANY FOR GOOD RESULTS.
FedEx workers Vote down Company Agreement for THIRD TIME Safe and secure work in Australia’s deadliest industry remains under attack from the ‘Amazon effect’. Amazon’s exploitative Flex model engages workers in delivery “blocks” on belowminimum wages and conditions, undercutting responsible operators and driving an industry crisis that pressures companies such as FedEx to join the downward spiral and strip away decent work. This year 122 people have died in truck crashes, 31 of those truck drivers. In Australia’s deadliest industry, lowering standards puts workers and every road user at risk. FedEx workers are fighting for a future in transport where good, secure jobs are the norm, not the exception.
BRIDGESTONE WORKERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH
TWU members working for Bridgestone took action last week, holding a 12-hour strike following Bridgestone's unfair and disrespectful offer, which only provides father's one day of parental leave for the birth of their newborn baby.
123
These workers are also expected to be on call throughout the night for emergency tyre services, but are expected to show up to work the next day without adequate rest. They are fighting for:
FAIR WAGE INCREASE
JOB SECURITY AND RESPECT AT WORK
DIGNITY IN RETIREMENT WITH 15% SUPER
With today's interest rate rise, ensuring you earn a livable wage couldn't be more vital. Across the transpor t industry, workers have had enough. They’re tired. They’re overworked. They’re feeling the pressure .
SCT STOP WORK MEETING
SCT workers are holding strong in their negotiations, with another stop work meeting planned for Thursday afternoon if negotiations fall through during the week.
WORKERS ARE FIGHTING FOR...
2026 PRIDE PARADE RSVP here to make with the TWU and other unions on Sat Nov 28th
WOMENS NETWORK MEETING Join Chiara Staines and TWU members for the TWU Womens Network Meeting on October 25th
RSVP here
TWU WINS TWU WA members working at Veolia were concerned they were not receiving adequate pay rises in line with CPI in their current agreement. They sought help from the TWU WA legal team, who reached out to the company to resolve the issue. Initially, the company defied TWU legal requests, seeking to not pay the increase. After continued pressure from the TWU WA legal team, Veolia moved on its decision and today advised the TWU that all workers would receive a 4.6% increase to their wages, backdated from June 20th. This is a classic example of why it PAYS to be union.
VENTIA INTRACTABLE BARGAINING DECISION HANDED DOWN After nearly three long years of negotiations TWU members at Ventia have finally had their intractable bargaining deciison handed down, earning them solid wage increases and back pay until 2027. Negotiations began, more than 29 months ago, with multiple actions taken in this time to force Ventia to improved its proposed offer. These are the wins won by the strength and solidarity of ventia TWU members holding firm on their claims and fighting for a better agreement for the officers to come.
OUR PARTNERS Reducing the impacts of financial stress: Financial worries affect most Australians at some point and with the increasing cost of living, many people are feeling the pinch.
Click here to read more or scan the QR code
SEPTEMBER MONTHLY WHEEL