An industry-wide strike of delivery workers planned for next week may be avoided after Toll reached an in-principle agreement with staff over conditions and job protection.
While the deal may potentially avoid the planned industrial action, the union hopes other companies will soon follow suit.
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Union members from Toll, Linfox, StarTrack, FedEx and BevChain voted last week for a day of national strike action, an escalation after six months of stalled negotiations.
But workers at Toll have now reached an in-principle agreement with their bosses, which will go to union delegates for a vote on Friday.
If the agreement is endorsed, they’ll pull out of the planned strike.
The Transport Workers’ Union is pushing for its members to get better job security, with limits on the use of outsourcing.
The TWU said that contract workers are paid less, making them more attractive to employers and ultimately creates job insecurity for permanent staff.
The union says the Toll deal would mean outside workers are paid the same as employees, outsourcing is limited, and employees get first dibs on work before it’s sent elsewhere.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said the Toll deal – a “major victory” for Toll workers – would set an important precedent for other transport operators.
“We implore StarTrack, FedEx, Linfox and BevChain to follow Toll’s lead and commit to the reasonable protections workers are seeking,” Kaine said.
“As Christmas draws nearer and negotiations reach their sixth month, it’s time to end the attack on jobs and prevent the need for further industrial action,” he said.
The union plans to present similar proposals, providing guarantees for workers but allowing the companies some flexibility, to other employers in upcoming negotiation meetings.
A company spokeswoman said Toll was pleased to reach the deal and was looking forward to presenting the offer to employees with the TWU’s endorsement.
But the spokeswoman said the union had mischaracterised some of the elements of the deal.
In some cases, Toll agreed to maintain provisions relating to job security already in the enterprise bargaining agreement, the spokeswoman said.
In other cases, such as in relation to outsourcing of work, the company agreed to further protection.
WITH NEWS FROM AAP