Staples sacks 45 drivers by SMS

Staples sacks 45 drivers by SMS

BY LUCAS BAIRD

Staples has sacked 45 Sydney based truck drivers via text message in a dispute surrounding low pay rates and intimidation by management.

The American office supply chain is now the subject of a NSW Industrial Relations Commission after workers brought the case to the Transport Workers Union (TWU).

TWU secretary, Michael Aird labelled the company “heartless,” calling out a high bar for entry and a below par pay rate.

“In some cases drivers have put upwards of $130,000 into their business yet they are earning as little as $8 per hour – you can’t run a business on that and you certainly can’t support a family on that money,” Mr Aird said.

TWU explained that the $100 thousand was required to be payed to Staples to secure the contract and $30 thousand was used to purchase the driver’s trucks.

While the $8 an hour figure was based on the single package pay of $2 and the delivery to the average amount of houses in an hour, four. Former employee, Richard Manning said it was near impossible to make ends meet on the wage that Staples was paying him and is now left wondering how he will support his family

“We’re desperate – this is our businesses and our ability to support our families on the line,” Mr Manning said.

He claimed that the drivers had consistently tried to sit down with management but indicated that they were “snubbed,” every time they tried to reach a fair solution.

Mr Aird accused Staples of importing US methods of union-busting.

“The company offered some drivers a new contract on existing rates, but in a tactic straight out of the American union-busting model, four members of the driver’s committee, two of the oldest drivers and one other have not been offered jobs back. All drivers have refused the contract,” he said.

“We know that if Staples succeeds here, other major companies likes Coles will take this as a green light to push down rates and conditions across their supply chains.”

Staples Australia was contacted for comment by City Hub, but did not get back intime for publication

 

 

 

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