Reference no: EM133181930

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has warned that thousands of workers from major Australian transport operators will walk off the job nationwide, if their companies fail to agree to secure work arrangements in ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations.

Key points:

• StarTrack, FedEx, Toll, Linfox and BevChain are likely to return to the bargaining table with the union in the coming week;
• TWU members from those companies have already voted to take industrial action;
• The union says operators are slashing permanent jobs to cope with the "Amazon effect".

The proposed national day of strike action has been endorsed by workers at StarTrack, FedEx, Toll, Linfox and BevChain, and those companies are likely to return to the bargaining table in the coming days. Two weeks ago, hundreds of StarTrack workers walked off the job, threatening disruptions to parcel deliveries nationwide. 

The TWU has been pushing for protections against the rise of outsourcing in the industry in enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) negotiations for the past five months. "In transport, job security is literally a matter of life or death," the union's national secretary Michael Kaine said. "When work is pushed out to lower paid workers with fewer rights, safety standards plummet". "It's time for transport operators to bring a reasonable solution to the table and provide the guarantees workers need so that national strikes will not be necessary."

The union said operators aim to slash secure jobs to cope with the "Amazon effect" of cost-cutting in supply chains and competition from AmazonFlex. But StarTrack, a company owned by Australia Post, told the ABC it strongly rejects accusations that job security is under threat. "StarTrack is committed to its strong offer for the new EBA which includes a market-leading guaranteed pay rise of 9 per cent over three years, delivered as 3 per cent compounding each year," a spokesperson said. 

"This is an industry leading pay offer, and StarTrack is not proposing any reductions in pay or conditions for its employees". "Any further industrial action will cause delays and delivery impacts, at a time when the delivery of essential items has never been more important." 

FedEx said it will continue to negotiate with the union to reach a fair agreement but it is disappointed about the union taking industrial action. "We have been engaging cooperatively in negotiations with the TWU in an attempt to secure an agreement which will provide a fair wage and superannuation increase that can be passed onto our employees at the earliest opportunity," FedEx told the ABC in a statement. 

"FedEx is committed to promoting job security for our employees, including the reduction in use of outside hire where we are able".

1. Who are the three (3) key stakeholders in the field of employment relations in the case study, and what are their main arguments?

2. What is the difference between the unitarist and pluralist frames of reference in the field of employment relations? Which one will benefit the following two stakeholders in the case study? In your answer, demonstrate the strengths of the frame of reference that you have chosen and explain your reasons.

Worker/employee  

Trade union