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Toll workers prepare to vote on strike action

More than 8000 workers from Australia’s largest logistics company Toll Group could go on strike for 72 hours after the Transport Workers Union won the right to vote on industrial action.

The TWU filed documents with the Fair Work Commission on Friday asking them to approve a ballot on all forms of industrial action. The commission granted permission for the vote yesterday.

Workers at over 400 yards will be balloted by the Australian Electoral Commission on the type o faction they wish to take, including a strike of up to 72 hours, News.com reported.

The TWU wants confirmation that employees of companies contracted by Toll are paid fair wages.

It is also asking Toll to guarantee it won't create separate businesses with lower pay rates and differing safety standards.

"Fighting for the rights and conditions of workers at Toll is part of our fight to protect the rights and conditions of every transport worker in the country," said TWU Assistant National Secretary Michael Kaine.

"Our members are prepared for this next step in this fight."

TWU negotiation team member, Rick Millich, said Toll had left the union with no option.

"It's effectively pushing us for a permission slip to contract out our jobs to unsafe, substandard operations," Millich said.

"We're ready to fight to secure Toll jobs and for our families."

A spokesman for Toll said the company was "extremely disappointed" the union had taken the action.

"We are extremely disappointed the union has taken this action, especially considering negotiations between Toll and the union are continuing,” he said.

"Implementing union-imposed conditions that make Toll uncompetitive in the current economic environment would be the biggest threat to job security.”

Votes will be taken over the next month and industrial action could begin after it is endorsed.

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