News online
European road transport workers give official backing to Australian TNT employees
6 September 2007
A meeting of road transport workers in Belgium has unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Australian union currently embroiled in a dispute with TNT.
The resolution, moved by Dutch ITF affiliate FNV Bondgenoten at the Road Transport Section meeting of the ETF, the ITF’s European arm, on 4 September, expressed solidarity with fellow affiliate, the Australian Services Union (ASU). The union is at loggerheads with the international logistics firm over attempts to impose a new non-union contract.
The resolution also voiced concern over this latest move, part of attempts by the company to deunionise TNT Shared Services Pty Limited workplaces across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where receptionists and administration workers are employed.
Workers were presented with the proposed contract last week and asked to vote on it on Monday. However, the union’s efforts to campaign for a “no vote” paid off when the majority of workers voted against the contract.
Jo Justo, ASU National Industrial Officer, responding to the resolution and messages of solidarity from unions from other parts of the world, from Africa to Asia-Pacific, thanked the unions for their support. She commented: “The workers at TNT and the union organisers were immensely proud and moved to receive all of your words of support. The struggle is just beginning but together we will put our every last effort into winning a strong union agreement with the workers of TNT.”
Commenting on the vote, she said: “The vote was close at 75 against and 50 for the agreement. However this gives us a good base to work with.”
The union is hoping to meet with management next week to restate the case for a union contract.
Back to current news online stories
