1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Exhausted truck drivers say they're being pushed to speed, skip brakes, 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: and bend the law just to keep the freight moving 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: in this great country of ours. Unions warn the cutthroat 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: industry of slashing safety and putting everybody on the road 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: at risk. So Lance Gush is from the Workers First Union, 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: he's an organizer, joins you this morning, Good morning to 7 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: your Lance. 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 2: Good morning, Andrew, how are you good? 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: How did you find out that the conditions are this bad? 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: Our role is to advocate and support represent drivers and 11 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 2: working in amongst them and getting a field for the industry. 12 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: There's a lot of pressure put on them to deliver 13 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 2: on time and full but certainly unacceptable time limits. 14 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: Okay, well, why are these conditions so bad? 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: The system set up to give all the power to 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: the large companies that are paying these freight companies to 17 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: move their goods, and effectively they're in control. Pre companies 18 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 2: are undercutting each other to get the contracts because we'll 19 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: live in a small country and it's super competitive. We've 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 2: had examples of companies that have had to hit drop 21 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: just to maintain and keep the contracts. They've had to 22 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: drop three vehicles out of a ninety vehicle fleet expect 23 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,559 Speaker 2: with the expectation to provide the same service and deliver 24 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: the same amount of products. 25 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: Well, if the margins are so tight for the frasers, 26 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: they can't really afford to have more drivers, which will 27 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: be the answer to the problem. So what is there 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: an answer? 29 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: Save Freights is a campaign that's global and what it 30 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: does is it effectively sets a bottom line or a 31 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: floor that they are unable to go below. It's mandated 32 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: by the government and produce quarterly and effectively. It says 33 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: that this is the fifth strate of providing these services, 34 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 2: and that way it gives a level playing field for 35 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: the companies that are tendering for these agreements. 36 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: So they have to change their conditions voluntarily. 37 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 2: This system will mean that the government mandates it and 38 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: regulates it, and that way, the larger businesses that are 39 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: providing this or that are driving this are unable to 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: be offered anything less than the floor. 41 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: Are people still wanting to become truckies or is there 42 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: a shortage? 43 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 2: Look, we were experiencing a shortage. You know, I live 44 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: in Auckland. Everyone here knows that there's seems to be 45 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: a lot more heavy vehicles on the road so, but 46 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 2: I think the model is changing. From what we can see, 47 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: it seems like businesses are moving away from having permanent 48 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 2: employees and moving more towards either the owner driver models 49 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: or the use of contractors to try and mitigate losses. 50 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: Is really what that comes down to. 51 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: Sounds like you're on the road right now, are you. 52 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 2: I'm literally on my way to catch up with seventy 53 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: of my drivers I represent. We're heading into baggining and 54 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: just wanting to get a feel for what a fear 55 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: and reasonable pay increase would look like for them in 56 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 2: this one. 57 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: All right, all right, we'll give them, give them my best, 58 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: and thank you so much for keeping all the goods 59 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: on the roads and keeping the economy moving. And I 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: thank you for your time. That a lands Gush the 61 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: Workers First union organizer. 62 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live 63 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 2: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 64 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.