In response to stories on long haul truck drivers sleeping at depots, not being able to eat or drink anything (because they don’t have time to go to the bathroom) and having to pee in bottles due to the pressure to meet ever-more tightening deadlines, FIRST Union Transport Organiser Justin Wallace has this to say;
“The issues contractor truck drivers face are echoed with truck drivers who are employees also. Truck drivers across the country are angry. We almost had a huge strike just before Christmas with Pacific Fuel Haul (that supplies a majority of the country’s fuel to petrol stations and the like) that was called off at the last minute as the company decided to return to the negotiation table under the threat of strike action. We also have an ongoing partial strike at Southfuels (that supplies more bulk fuel to primary industries and the like). This is all because drivers who are employed face similar issues of working too many hours and not having control over their work/life balance as contract drivers. They are not afforded the time off and are forced to work long hours because their pay is inadequate. They do not receive danger pay or adequate overtime pay. The KPIs these companies push on drivers is taking their health and mental wellbeing to breaking point. They need more autonomy over their working lives so we have safer truck drivers on our roads.”
