Industry open to Government accord
with its desire to impose Fair Pay Agreements or national awards on our industry.
Centralised wage fixing, which is basically what Fair Pay Agreements are, would be disastrous for the efficiency and productivity of our industry, make it difficult to hire new drivers in certain parts of the country and would become a substantial drag on the overall economy.
We are already dealing with the impacts of restrictive break time rules, inadequate roading infrastructure, unreasonably lowered speed limits….and then there’s the possibility of cannabis liberalisation that could have serious implications for health and safety in the workplace.
At the end of the day RTF and other industry leaders are willing to discuss any options that would enhance the overall sustainability and efficiency of our industry. What we require from Government though, is a far more joinedup policy approach that combines useful immigration reform, workable employment relations settings and modern transport infrastructure that creates an environment that helps us to meet the increasing demands of the growing freight task.
Finally…don’t forget, if you’re in the Christchurch area on March 20 and 21, the 2020 TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show is being held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park. The two-yearly show is one of the biggest of its type in the country and, with the addition of events like the
Driving Championships, better than ever this year.
The UDC Show and Shine is the centrepiece of the weekend and I’m told there will be 400500 gleaming trucks on display. There will also be a classic trucks showcase, a careers expo and a dinner and awards night.
I will be there for at least part of the event so if you see me around, come and say hi and have a chat about what the RTF has been up to on your behalf.
T&D
will be bigger and