History
The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry
By Russell McKinnon
1980
A TWU strike for wage increases came about during protracted negotiations. By July it was over and the TWU had extracted a wage increase of $20 per week and a 10 percent increase in allowances included in Parts 1 and 2 of the Wage Schedule, retrospective to July 29, 1981 and subject to inclusion in the Transport Workers’ Award, 1972. The Association gained some excellent interest rates with its investments, gaining 15.75 percent on a first mortgage basis for $30,000; $18,000 on a short-term basis at 13.25 percent; and the balance on call at the ANZ Bank at 10 percent. R H North resigned as a trustee of the Association after serving at various levels since 1942. He was farewelled at a special function on September 22. At the October 14 meeting of the Executive Council it was he Australian Bus and Coach Association was formed, decided to chronicle the history of the road transport industry in replacing the Passenger Division of the ARTF. WA with a list of likely people to assist be drawn up, a writer or The Executive Council advised the State Government historian commissioned to undertake the project; costs be funded that for various reasons, the Association would not support the by individual companies and the sale of the book; and contacts proposal to introduce State legislation for the purpose of defining could be made to establish the best means of commencing the the carriers’ liability in the cases of loss or damage to goods. Issues project. At the November 4 meeting, it was suggested that the earlier raised included the probability proposal be referred to the Department of that insurance premiums would be The funding of the Upper Swan Road History, University of WA, for the purpose raised; carriers would be forced to Train Assembly Area operating costs of ensuring that a professional historian accept liability without any means of be obtained to undertake the work. At the was decided by the Association to recouping the costs; under current December 2 meeting it was reported that favour the proposal of 5 cents per no success in obtaining a person had been proposals there would be no uniformity; tonne to be added to permit fees and reached and that a press advertisement experience in Queensland by one for trailer licences to North-West company appears to favour the proposal; would be placed to find a suitable person. the Trade Practices Act had influenced The funding of the road train assembly centres to be $40-$50 per annum previous opinions on this subject. area operating costs in Upper Swan was An eight-day strike by R C Sadleir employees at Kewdale decided by the Association to favour the proposal of 5 cents per occurred as a result of the company refusing to meet a TWU claim tonne to be added to permit fees and for trailer licences to Northfor service pay. Employees decided that sub-contractors and casual West centres to be $40-$50 per annum. staff should also qualify for the service pay. Efforts were being made to re-establish the WA Road Transport The average number of children carried on each school day by Industry Training Committee and WARTA was attending meetings. bus totalled 25,191 with an average daily run of 87,777km. There It came to fruition in early 1982. were 757 bus contracts and 26 minor contracts in operation for an The Australian Road Transport Federation conference was annual cost of $12,292,813. The average cost per child was $487.98. staged in Perth on September 28 until October 2. The increase in five years was nearly $200 per child. The Furniture Removers’ Division staged its Christmas function at the Ascot Inn Hotel, Belmont on December 4 or 5. The Association backed the move for daylight saving. This was Quarterly general meetings were not being attended enough for despite a possible objection from school bus operators. a quorum so it was decided at the May 27, 1981 meeting that a The Parcels and Light Delivery Division was asked by the recommendation go to the Annual General Meeting that quarterly Executive Council to arrange a meeting of dissatisfied parcel meetings be abandoned and that special meetings be called as and and courier operators with the intent of renaming the division to when required. Parcels, Taxi Truck and Courier Division.
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1981
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WATM • December 2021
