Who are the TWU in Australia?

The TWU in Australia is the Transport Workers’ Union, a trade union that represents workers in various sectors of the transportation industry, such as road transport, aviation, gig economy, and more. The TWU fights for fair pay, safe conditions, and workers’ rights for its members and the communities they serve¹²³

What good things have the Australian TWU done?

The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia (TWU) is a trade union that represents workers in various sectors of the transportation industry, such as road transport, aviation, gig economy, and more. The TWU fights for fair pay, safe conditions, and workers’ rights for its members and the communities they serve¹²³

Some of the good things that the TWU has done include:

• Winning historic court cases against Qantas for illegally sacking 1700 workers and outsourcing their jobs. The TWU secured reinstatement and compensation for the affected workers³
• Campaigning for better regulation and protection of gig economy workers, such as rideshare drivers and food delivery riders. The TWU has advocated for minimum pay, insurance, and safety standards for these workers²
• Negotiating collective agreements and enterprise bargaining agreements with various employers and clients in the transport industry. The TWU has achieved improved wages, conditions, and benefits for its members across different sectors²
• Supporting the Safe Rates campaign, which aims to ensure that transport operators and drivers are paid fairly and safely. The TWU has exposed the practices of wealthy clients and airports that put pressure on transport workers and create unsafe road conditions²

What bad things have the Australian TWU done?

This is another subjective question that may have different answers depending on one’s perspective. Some people may think that the TWU has done some bad things, such as:

• Launching strikes and protests that disrupted the transport industry and affected the customers and the public. The TWU has staged several industrial actions against Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin, and other transport companies over pay and conditions disputes¹²³
• Opposing the deregulation and privatisation of the transport sector, which some argue would increase competition and efficiency. The TWU has campaigned against the sale of public assets and services, such as airports, buses, and railways, to private operators.
• Demanding higher wages and benefits for transport workers, which some claim would raise the costs and prices for the transport industry and the consumers. The TWU has negotiated for better pay and entitlements for its members, such as superannuation, annual leave, and redundancy packages.

However, these are not necessarily bad things from the point of view of the TWU and its members, who may see them as necessary and justified actions to protect their rights and interests. There is no definitive answer to this question, but some web sources may provide more arguments and evidence on this topic¹²³

Are unions good or bad overall?

This is a complex and debatable question that does not have a simple answer. Unions are organizations that represent the collective interests of workers in various sectors of the economy. They aim to improve the wages, benefits, working conditions, and rights of their members through collective bargaining, advocacy, and sometimes strikes. However, unions also have some drawbacks and challenges, such as costs, conflicts, regulations, and competition.

Some of the pros of unions are:

• They can help workers negotiate better pay and benefits, which can improve their living standards and reduce income inequality¹²³
• They can protect workers from unfair or illegal treatment, such as discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination. They can also provide a grievance process and legal support for workers who face disputes with their employers¹²³
• They can improve the working conditions and safety of workers, by enforcing labor laws, standards, and regulations. They can also advocate for social and environmental causes that affect workers and their communities¹²³
• They can increase the bargaining power and voice of workers, by organizing them into a unified group that can influence policies and decisions that affect their interests. They can also participate in political and civic activities that promote workers’ rights and democracy¹²³

Some of the cons of unions are:

• They can limit the flexibility and efficiency of employers, by imposing rigid rules and contracts that restrict their ability to hire, fire, promote, or assign workers. They can also increase the costs and prices of goods and services, by demanding higher wages and benefits¹²⁴⁵
• They can create conflicts and divisions among workers, by favoring some groups over others, such as seniority, tenure, or union status. They can also generate resentment and hostility between workers and employers, by engaging in adversarial and confrontational tactics, such as strikes, boycotts, or lawsuits¹²⁴⁵
• They can face challenges and difficulties in adapting to the changing economy and society, such as globalization, automation, outsourcing, deregulation, and competition. They can also lose their relevance and effectiveness, as their membership, influence, and public support decline¹²⁴⁵

As you can see, unions have both advantages and disadvantages, depending on the perspective, context, and situation. Therefore, it is not possible to say that unions are good or bad overall, but rather that they have positive and negative impacts on different aspects of work and society¹²³⁴⁵⁶