Drivers getting raw deal from big oil and logistics players in the North

Despite their already low pay, a group of Northland petroleum tanker drivers are getting little recognition of the value of their work, and in some cases may even be pressured to work in breach of land transport rules.

Six of the eight delivery drivers at Toll Carriers in Whangarei, who service BP and GAS stations, are into their second day of industrial action in support of a pay claim for rates closer to what drivers doing deliveries for all the other major oil companies are receiving.

FIRST Union organiser Jared Abbot said that the drivers work hard for low pay, and were getting a raw deal from the global logistics and oil players.

“Hauling petroleum is dangerous work and it requires a high level of skill.  The drivers would rather be back at work servicing Northland’s petrol stations but attempts since January to improve their conditions to properly value their work have made little progress.”

The union has also raised concerns about breaches to Land Transport Act requirements that drivers do not work longer than 14 hours per day including compulsory breaks.

A complaint has been raised with the company and Toll management have confirmed BP were already investigating their own tip off that the rules have been breached.

“Toll is trying to use log books and time sheets to discredit the concerns.  If there was genuine interest in road safety then the company should be auditing their GPS systems.”

Jared Abbott said that industrial action was the last resort for these workers, but despite this both Toll and BP have said in the media in the past day they will do all they can to try and have the work carried out by other drivers, which raises a legal question over breaching section 97 of the Employment Relations Act.

Background

Drivers at Toll Carriers, members of FIRST Union, have been bargaining since January with the Australian company for a collective agreement. So far the company has been unwilling to match industry rates, which in some cases are $10 an hour more than the Toll workers are paid.  The strike started at midnight Thursday and affects deliveries to petrol stations BP and GAS in the Northland region.

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