A convoy of unionists from Queensland has set off for Sydney as part of a mass protest highlighting the pressure they claim is put on truck drivers to meet dangerous and unreasonable deadlines.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) plans to stage a demonstration with more than 700 members in Sydney after delegates from Queensland and South Australia arrive on Thursday.
The convoy will stop at the Gold Coast, Ballina, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle en route to Sydney.
The union has taken particular issue with supermarket giant Coles, accusing it of creating an unsafe environment through deadlines set by economic pressure.
While TWU Queensland secretary Peter Biagini conceded supermarkets and other major retailers didn't actually employ any trucks or drivers themselves, he argued they put implicit pressure on transport companies to meet unsafe standards to win contracts.
"For them to survive they've got to bow to their clients, which means cutting back on maintenance, pushing the drivers and making sure that the wheels are turning 24 hours, seven days a week," Mr Biagini said.
He said this contributed to fatalities on the country's roads.
Mr Biagini called for retailers to help craft a more "sustainable" standard for truck drivers by taking responsibility for the risks of these cost-cutting measures.
Driver Guillaume Maze said he observed other trucks cutting corners every day by speeding or driving erratically.
He said his boss was usually understanding if he failed to meet a deadline but not all workplaces would be as reasonable.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) plans to stage a demonstration with more than 700 members in Sydney after delegates from Queensland and South Australia arrive on Thursday.
The convoy will stop at the Gold Coast, Ballina, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle en route to Sydney.
The union has taken particular issue with supermarket giant Coles, accusing it of creating an unsafe environment through deadlines set by economic pressure.
While TWU Queensland secretary Peter Biagini conceded supermarkets and other major retailers didn't actually employ any trucks or drivers themselves, he argued they put implicit pressure on transport companies to meet unsafe standards to win contracts.
"For them to survive they've got to bow to their clients, which means cutting back on maintenance, pushing the drivers and making sure that the wheels are turning 24 hours, seven days a week," Mr Biagini said.
He said this contributed to fatalities on the country's roads.
Mr Biagini called for retailers to help craft a more "sustainable" standard for truck drivers by taking responsibility for the risks of these cost-cutting measures.
Driver Guillaume Maze said he observed other trucks cutting corners every day by speeding or driving erratically.
He said his boss was usually understanding if he failed to meet a deadline but not all workplaces would be as reasonable.
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