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.”
Other smaller operators are also coming to the rescue of Scott’s staff.
Earlier this week the family-owned Victoria-based transport logistics service Dyers Distribution posted two ads on Seek looking for Scott’s drivers.
“We currently have employment opportunities available for drivers and subcontractors impacted by the sudden liquidation of Scott’s,” the post reads.
“Immediate start available with good pay and conditions with a long established family owned and operated company.
“Suitable employees offered an additional entitlements after successfully completing a probation period. Subcontractors offered discounted fuel and fortnightly payments with $2000 upfront payment after 5 days work.”
In a post on its Facebook page, Farey Transport & Trading said it has recognised the “disaster this is for the refrigerated transport industry”, along with their customers across Australia.
“We are looking to setup shuttles from the Riverina, into and out of Sydney. We would be happy for anyone affected by the Scott’s RL announcement to contact us regarding these positions, along with any other opportunities we have going,” the post reads.
Meanwhile, KordaMentha – which is tasked with selling the company’s fleet of 500 trucks and 24 warehouses – has told office workers, linehaul managers and workshop staff that they no longer need to show up.
According to one Scott’s truckie, who spoke to Big Rigs on the condition of anonymity, it’s mostly only drivers left now and he estimates they will be told to park up by Friday of this week, at the latest.
“They’ve posted security guards on the gates now to ensure no one takes anything,” the truckie said.
“The mechanics have grabbed their tools and left. All the workshops have shut down.”
The workers had to keep fronting until they were told otherwise to ensure they can access their entitlements worth a combined $50 million, but according to the truckie who spoke to Big Rigs, they may have to wait as long as June to get the money owed to them.
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.