Owner-drivers have had their hopes dashed after the Federal Court last week ruled against delaying the introduction of minimum pay rates for owner-drivers of trucks.
The rates were set by the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) to enforce minimum pay rates for owner-drivers, but big companies do not have to abide by the same pay rate.
Park Ridge owner-driver Paul Spring said the removal of the stay had caused stress among his network.
“I’ve now got to abide by this law, so it’s had an immediate effect on the price of this job,” he said.
“We are now unemployable; everyone is too spooked to load owner-drivers.”
Mr Spring had given a quote during the stay, so the price was lower than what he had to charge the client on Friday.
“Everything adds up and everyone can see it’s not fair,” he said. “Isn’t the union supposed to be helping us keep jobs?”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged to abolish the RSRT if the coalition is re-elected.
