Team Global Express (TGE) is setting up an ‘expression of interest’ link for the 1500 staff facing redundancy from Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics.
The Australian reports that TGE – formerly part of Toll – is having “constructive conversations” with the Transport Workers’ Union and Scott’s receiver KordaMentha about hiring sacked workers.
The union is holding similar talks with Linfox, ACFS, Ron Finemore Transport and FBT Transwest to “maximise redeployment opportunities” and mitigate disruptions of food deliveries to major supermarkets.
A spokeswoman for TGE said the company had several vacant roles across Australia, including truck and forklift drivers, customer service representatives, as well as depot and corporate staff.
“Team Global Express is having constructive conversations with the TWU and Scott’s, to assist affected employees transition to new work opportunities,” the spokeswoman said.
“We understand this is a stressful time for people who have been affected by this situation. We are implementing a dedicated ‘expression of interest’ link for Scott’s employees to register via, and are deploying additional recruitment resources to assist those who register. This link will be provided directly to the TWU and Scott’s.”
Meanwhile, KordaMentha – which is tasked with selling the company’s fleet of 500 trucks and 24 warehouses – told the 1500 staff that they should keep turning up to work, providing no end date to their employment.
According to The Australian, the workers must show up to ensure they can access their entitlements worth a combined $50 million.
KordaMentha hopes to begin a sale of the company’s assets as early as this week.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said a decade of government inaction on the crisis in transport left operators fending for themselves in a broken market.
“This is another tragedy of the untrammelled commercial power at the top of transport supply chains,” said Kaine.
“Retailers are reaping the gains from razor-thin margins while operators and drivers collapse under the strain.
“We urgently need reform in transport to ensure wealthy clients at the top of supply chains are accountable for fair, safe and sustainable transport operations for the freight of their goods.”
Following the collapse of Scott’s, the union is holding a series of rallies around the country on Tuesday, March 7, to call on Aldi to take responsibility for safety and fairness in its supply chain.
Kaine said the collapse of Scott’s is a “tragedy of a supply chain crisis caused by wealthy clients like Aldi squeezing transport contracts and profiting off the razor-thin margins of operators”. Aldi – which accounted for 3 per cent of Scott’s business – has refuted the union’s claims.
“Unlike Coles and Woolies, Aldi has refused to sign a supply chain charter with the TWU and instead tried to silence truckies in court – but lost, twice,” Kaine said.
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