A national strike by more than 7000 TOLL truck drivers on Friday will hurt fuel and goods supplies around the country, including ag supplies.
The protected action is part of an enterprise bargaining dispute in which the Transport Workers Union claims TOLL is trying to undercut conditions and sub-contract work out to other drivers.
Wage negotiations broke down this week. The TWU has also warned of a national highway blockade if TOLL doesn't negotiate on its demands, possibly next week.
It's believed drivers from the other major trucking company Linfox may also be headed for an enterprise bargaining dispute and industrial action.
TOLL is one of the major trucking companies in the supply chain for ag products, fuel, medical goods and other deliveries. In Sydney it may affect deliveries to Woolworths supermarkets.
A Woolworths spokesperson said: "We're aware of the situation and monitoring it closely.
"We hope further talks can bring a resolution to the matter in the coming days."
Toll is the primary freight provider to Woolworths stores in metropolitan Sydney, North Queensland and parts of regional Victoria. Toll has contingency plans in place to continue serving our business.
Linfox, Ron Finemore Transport and other freight companies look after the broader network of Woolworths stores in other states and territories. They will be unaffected by the proposed strike.
The union claims that in a bid to compete with global giants like Amazon Flex, TOLL is aiming to drive down costs "by scrapping overtime entitlements and engaging outside drivers". But Toll claims it has the best EBA in the industry and says it will continue to do so once current negotiations conclude.
"One thing we and the union do agree on, our employees deserve a pay rise," it said in a statement. "We've put a generous offer on the table and are committed to further discussion."
In response Toll Group said it was"disappointed the TWU is threatening industrial action in the middle of a global pandemic".
"As one of the country's biggest transport companies, we are well used to managing disruptions to our operations, from bushfires to floods to a global pandemic," Alan Beacham, Global Express division president said in a statement. "We can assure customers their goods will be transported during any potential industrial action."
TOLL Holdings is now a major international freight company, but it had its early start in Newcastle north of Sydney.
It was founded by Newcastle businessman Albert Toll in 1888.
In 1962, TOLL was bought by Peko Wallsend. It was bought by Japan Post in 2015 who this year attempted to sell off part of its Global Express Unit.
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John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
