‘Bad for workers, bad for industry’

Unite delegate Tony Lewington addressed TUC Congress today (September 14) on casualisation in Road, Transport and Logistics.

“Casualisation is the daily reality for everyone who works in my sector— Road Transport and Logistics,” said Tony.

“It is bad for workers, bad for industry, bad for communities and bad for safety,” he added.

The work of professional drivers and dedicated warehouse workers is contracted into a downward spiral on a never ending ‘race to the bottom’.

“Agency working, zero hours contracts, bogus self-employment, the abuse of TUPE, labour management systems, periods of availability and the Swedish Derogation are just some of the issues we face,” said Tony.

All of these things are just other names for casualisation, he argued.

The motion called for TUC research to expose these practices .Unite tanker drivers did expose just this in the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign and national dispute in 2012 – achieving the Petroleum Driver Passport.

In January last year, the Petroleum Driver Passport came into force.

It is a mandatory scheme, covering over 6,000 fuel tanker drivers. It means that drivers involved in the loading, transporting and offloading of petroleum fuel products are now trained and assessed to the same high standard. And no company can undercut on this essential training and health and safety standard.

“In our industry, when drivers were working for cowboy operators they were given little training or guidance about the equipment they are supposed to use,” said Tony.

In an industry dealing with flammable liquids this is a serious health and safety risk to all.

“This came about after the industrial action ballot of tanker drivers convinced all parts of the industry to take action and stop the race to the bottom,” added Tony.

It is this ability to bring about positive change that the government is determined to take away from trade unions and working people in their trade union Bill.

“Support this Composite as part of our continuing fight for decent work and safe and secure jobs for all,” Tony added.