It took a while but it's a goodie says TIM DAWSON

It is with a great sense of relief that I can report on our first agreement with Kalari Transport in Kwinana.
Drivers called the TWU in after almost 12 months of negotiations between them and the company had failed to deliver a result. The company eventually put out a notice asking drivers to nominate who they wanted to represent them.
We got the nod and were happy to lead the batting for the boys who cart lime in bulk tankers to Alcoa sites at Worsley, Wagerup and Kwinana.
It's a 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation, so we were chasing a decent sized wage increase.

We were well aware that Kalari's rates were trailing a bit behind other firm's and 4% or 5% wasn't going to satisfy us.
In the end we achieved a whopping 11.7% pay boost, up front, and the blokes should be proud of themselves.

Once they all decided that sticking together was the way to go - and a union deal is always the best deal - we had it made in the shade.

The agreement also includes two annual pay rises to come. Plus, a small increase in the meal money - not much but enough to pay for the sauce on a couple of pies.
But the big cash is in the first pay rise which will put around $200 per week in drivers' pockets.

Not a bad result when you consider being a TWU member only costs $7.85 per week. And you never know when you might need the TWU.

Thanks to our delegate Mick McQueen and Jamie Fisk who was a great help at the bargaining table.