STRIKE SET TO PROMPT PARCEL DELAYS

THOUSANDS of workers at a major parcel delivery service have walked off the job across the country as workplace agreement talks broke down.

Deliveries were almost certain to be affected as thousands of FedEx workers began a 24-hour strike at 1am on Monday. It’s the latest strike in a troubled few months for the industry, with several companies and workers standing off over work conditions and outsourcing.

Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said workers had paused industrial action last week due to an agreement nearly being reached, until talks broke down on Thursday.

Mr Kaine claimed FedEx attempted to “extend the agreement” and then refused to negotiate again on Friday. “FedEx is determined to trample all over its workforce trying to achieve job security and parity with their counterparts across the industry,” he said.

FedEx workers agreed to defer negotiations for 12 months in 2020 to support the company during the pandemic. But Mr Kaine said demand boomed. In June, the global transport giant reported record revenues at $US84bn.

StarTrack workers walked off the job last week, calling for an end to outsourcing. FedEx was contacted for comment.