We are pleased to welcome new Bus Organiser Imran Malik to the Branch. Imran comes across from Transdev as a decorated delegate having spent years representing his workplace.
Most Australians will commemorate Anzac Day in one way or another – from a passing thought to attending the Dawn Service or a hotel for a game of two-up.
A tribute worth highlighting is this photograph - submitted to the TWU News - of a Kenworth C509 painted with striking murals as a tribute to World War I serviceman Bill Braitling.
Bill was droving when the war broke out but wasted no time before enlisting in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. He fought in Egypt before serving as a driver, bombardier and gunner in Western Europe.
He survived the war and, upon returning home, took out a grazing licence in the NT. Brothers Matthew and Shane Braitling put the idea together to both honour their grandfather – a founding father of the road train – and to christen the new prime mover.
Photo courtesy of the Braitling family.
The two cases below illustrate the importance of employees being aware of their fundamental rights and employer obligations. If anyone is unsure they should seek out a TWU representative for further information. Together we are stronger.
A Melbourne truck driver who personally handed over $100 a fortnight for seven years to be salary-sacrificed into his superannuation fund was left facing retirement without his additional nest egg contributions.
Despite knowing the money he had parted with between 2004 and 2011 had never been transferred into his superannuation fund, the employee remained hopeful his Campbellfield-based employer would make amends and pay a lump sum of $19,000.
The matter was taken to Fair Work Australia and the employer explained to investigators that he was facing financial hardship, but acknowledged the debt and re-paid it.
Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James says deceitful behaviour has no place in Australian workplaces.
“It’s not on to ‘borrow’ an employee’s hard-earned money, even if you have every intention of ‘putting it back’ before they come calling for it,” Ms James said.
“Employees shouldn’t have to worry about their entitlements being mishandled.”
A Tullamarine full-time delivery driver was also awarded $10,800 recently after being paid under the wrong award and not receiving public holiday or leave loadings.
The 2016/17 Victorian State Budget has invested over $10 billion in public transport and road projects across Victoria. The Labor Government have already started removing 50 level crossings and will fully-fund Melbourne’s new Metro Tunnel.
Other initiatives announced in the Budget, include:
Melbourne suburban
· $1.46 billion over four years towards fully-funding the Western Distributor, the much-needed alternative to the West Gate Bridge. The project will create 5,600 jobs during construction and it is predicted travel times from Geelong to the Melbourne CBD will be cut by 20 minutes. The project will also add an extra lane to the Monash Freeway between Eastlink and Clyde Road
· $437 million to upgrade Thompsons Road, Yan Yean Road, O’Herns Road, Hoddle Street and Bolton Street in Eltham
· $228 million to duplicate sections of Dohertys Rd and Hallam Rd and widen Plenty Rd, and
· $10 million to plan the next stage of expanding the outer suburban arterial road network.
Regional
· $107 millionto improve safety and reduce travel times across the regions by providing extra overtaking lanes, improved road conditions and plans for future road upgrades.
· $107 millionto build the Drysdale Bypass, which will reduce congestion on the Bellarine Peninsula.
· Over$30 millionto duplicate Napier Street in Bendigo between Weeroona Avenue and Hall Street.
For further information, visit www.budget.vic.gov.au.
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