Australian transport workers to strike over pay and safety

Thousands of transport workers across Australia are scheduled to engage in coordinated strike action this week. The industrial action, organized by the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU), includes 24-hour strikes starting between midnight and 4am on Thursday for workers at companies such as FedEx, Border Express, K&S, SCT, PFD, Sadliers, Goldstar, and Qube. K&S ChemTrans workers are expected to strike for 48 hours.

Workers are demanding pay aligned with industry standards, increased job security, and influence over how automation and AI are implemented. The TWU has called on major corporations to fund decent standards within their supply chains to prevent industry degradation.

In a related development, approximately 600 Qantas Ground Services workers have voted in favor of protected industrial action during enterprise agreement bargaining. Simultaneously, Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) at Qantas have issued Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) regarding workplace safety and psychosocial hazards, specifically citing concerns over job security and pay structures. Qantas has disputed some of these characterizations as negotiations continue.