11am Sunday 27th July 2008
National Transport Shutdown Coordinator Mick Pattel (pictured below) writes:
It’s Full Stream Ahead with the National Transport Shutdown.
Despite last minute threats from large corporate entities, the shutdown set to start at midnight tonight will go ahead.
I’m in Brisbane and yesterday (Saturday) had meetings with the Queensland Assistant Police Commissioner and State Transport reps and am encouraged by what was discussed.
The message from the meeting was clear, no vigilante activity would be tolerated and that any participants in illegal activity will be arrested and have their vehicles confiscated.
The National Road Transport Forum does not condone any disrupting activity and we welcome police involvement with apprehending anyone breaking the law.
I have been operating under a shadow of uncertainty, with legal threats from corporate entities. Threats of violence and disruption have been present and I am calling for calm across the nation.
The National Road Transport Forum is confident that their members will behave with the utmost professionalism and community respect.
However, we are aware that a small pocket of renegade activities could be planned by a certain group.
Let me make it quite clear, the National Road Transport Forum will not and does not tolerate any acts of violence or any illegal activity that is being bandied around.
In the meetings with Police and the transport department yesterday we discussed safety issues and concerns for the proposed shutdown and the grass roots issues that are plaguing the industry.
As a result of those meetings I am positive about working together with all levels of government to develop positive outcomes for the trucking industry.
We have established open lines of communication with the state government and are looking forward to solving some of the problems that the truckies are experiencing.
This In particular, is with reference to demerit points on log books and fatigue management laws and registration hikes.
At the end of the day, I represent a section of the trucking industry that is professional, committed to safety and want to work together with government to solve these grass root issues.
Next Update - Tomorrow - the first day of the 2 week shutdown.
To see more articles on the Transport Shutdown Click Here.
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Have Your Say! Leave Mick a message. If your a truck driver or transport operator, tell us if you are parking up?
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Tags: Mick Pattel, Transport
As I have said since day 1, we can not afford not to park up, our couple of B Doubles will be in the yard till further notice.
The example of what the guy mentioned on the last update who is parking up 7 of his vehicles has the same problem we face and that is we also sit for up to 5 hrs at Metcash in Brisbane waiting to load or unload outside of time slot.
No mention of this from the government or TWU as this and the lack of parking bay facilities may affect on fatigue greater than any 15 min $300 3 demerit point line in a log book.
The TWU works for the TOLL and LINFOX boards not their employees. This is well known by all their employees who are pushing to support the stop work, but are frightened by the union notifying them they will be on their own if they do.
The TWU are frightened that they if they upset the Boards and stand up for their employees rights that it will affect it’s strong ties with the boards of big fleet and the income into the TWU.
Hughie stand down and take the government job you paid $780,000 for last election. Put someone in (as QTWU secretary) that has no ties with government or fleet boards or other major conflicts of interest and defends the employees not the executives.
My boss has 4 trucks ,and is parking up.
I am happy to do so without pay in the hope he will be able to continue as he is great to work for..hopes you are going for a minimum set rates as we are being forced to take s— rates.
Buck up and you sit around for a day or two..we need a minimum safe sustainable rate and lower diesel costs.+ all of the other conditions worth fighting for!
Do not trust the union!!!!!!!
good luck…
I am glad to see that action is finally being taken, however this can only be successful if there is total unity and more information out there for the local blokes.
I would be more than happy to participate today, but have no information as to where and when.
Why does the general public have to suffer because both the government and the transport industry are stupid and fail take notice of things like this?
A thesis from 2006
And a study in the USA from last year
These and other cost saving technologies could be in trucks right now if you lot weren’t so myopic.
It is time for you to grow up, accept your faults, and deal with your problems intelligently without hurting other people.
Had it also occurred to you that you may win the battle but lose the war by pissing off the gov and big business so much that they decide to focus on expanding rail and sea freight?
DS Mathews, you have missed the major points of the park up, that a majority of it has to do with the new fatigue regulations. If they come in then alot of freight will not be transported to you as reliably as before anyway.
Rail? It would take years and years for the government to get the rail up to scratch. And guess what, they dont deliver to your door. Trucks, yes trucks, are required at either end, and it is generally slower to deliver the average goods due to this.
And wouldn’t you think that a civil, peaceful protest such as a withdrawal of services and parking of the trucks an intelligent form of protest?
I have read about these alternatives in relation to fuel, and will look into some, not from your information though as I knew about them long before you “informed” us. But the dispute, again, is about much bigger issues. Maybe you should research those issues and help to find an answer instead.
Thankyou.