Toll truckies to walk off the job after months of failed talks, more chaos for Covid-hit logistics chain

Australia’s Covid-hit delivery network is set for more turmoil, with truck drivers voting to walk off the job after months of stalled talks with Toll.

Thousands of Toll truck drivers will strike for 24 hours on Friday, throwing a major spanner into the works of an already chaotic, Covid-hit supply chain.

The Transport Workers’ Union says the decision to take drastic action was made after the company “refused to withdraw its attack on jobs, rights and entitlements at crisis talks today”, warning it would disrupt food and fuel supplies this weekend.

The union said an overwhelming 94 per cent of truckies voted in favour of walking off the job, with the ballot giving about 7000 protection under the Fair Work Act.

The TWU claims Toll aims to drive down labour costs by scrapping overtime entitlements and engaging outside drivers on minimal pay and with fewer rights.

National secretary Michael Kaine said the action would follow months of failed talks.

“Toll workers need guarantees that they won’t be sliced and diced Qantas-style and replaced by a cut-price, underemployed workforce,” Mr Kaine said.

Australia’s truck delivery network is already in chaos due to the impacts of Covid. Picture: Richard Gosling

“They don’t want to go on strike, especially during a pandemic, but they must because they have everything to lose.”

TWU NSW/Queensland secretary and lead Toll negotiator Richard Olsen said strike action by the union’s members had never - and never would - disrupt medical supplies or vaccines.

Toll said it was disappointed the union was threatening industrial action in the middle of a global pandemic, with Alan Beacham, president of the Global Express division, saying it was “playing politics with people’s lives and jobs”.

He said lies Toll had “the best EBA in the entire industry” and agreed employees deserved a pay rise.

“We’ve put a generous offer on the table and are committed to further discussion,” he said.

“Industrial action only benefits the TWU, who like to show off in front of their union mates.

“It hurts employees and hurts our business. Let’s stop wasting time, get back to the negotiating table and sign this deal.”