Richard has been with the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia for over 25 years, leading the fight for transport workers across the aviation and road transport sectors. Today, Richard is the Secretary for the NSW/ QLD/VIC-TAS Interim Governance Branch of the TWU, the largest TWU branch in Australia.
During his time at the TWU, Richard has represented transport workers across the union, leading the TWU through some of its fiercest disputes and negotiating some of the largest union agreements in the country.
More recently, Richard has been instrumental in ensuring Safe Rates for transport workers in his branch. This has included successfully defending and expanding a local Safe Rates system in NSW which has existed for over 40 years, as well as the new federal Transport Reform laws passed in 2024. This world-first achievement has strengthened the voice of transport workers, addressed deadly pressures, improved job security, and ensures all road transport workers are covered.
Every day, transport workers keep our communities connected, our economy moving, and this country running.
At the Transport Workers’ Union, we exist for one simple reason: to give transport workers a powerful voice. For more than 100 years, the TWU has been fighting to improve pay, safety and conditions across the transport industry, and we are as determined as ever to build real worker power and deliver lasting change
When you join the TWU, you are not standing alone. You are joining thousands of transport workers across the country who back each other and fight together for decent work, safe workplaces and dignified wages. Whether you work in aviation, road transport, buses, waste, the gig economy or anywhere in between, you play a vital role and you belong in your union.
Dear TWU Queensland State Branch members.
On Friday the 5th of May 2023 the BCOM unanimously passed the following motions:
Resolutions:
The Branch Committee of Management directs the Branch Secretary under Rule 57 (c) to take all necessary steps to apply to the Registrar of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission under section 802 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (QLD) for an exemption from holding an election for the offices of the Union.
The Branch Committee of Management directs the Branch Secretary to take all necessary steps to notify members of the details of the application before it is made.
The Branch Committee of Management resolves that a Branch Assistant Secretary is not required until such time as a stand-alone Queensland Federal Branch is reconstituted.
