Toll New Zealand Group says Union allegations of logbook breaches are false.
“At Toll, safety is always our priority, especially in the petroleum transport sector,” says Toll New Zealand Group general manager Greg Miller.
“Recent allegations of breaches of the Transport Act regarding driver logbooks are false. A recent New Zealand Police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit audit of GPS and logbook data validates Toll’s compliance and safe operating performance.
“The dispute is between Toll and its drivers. It does not involve BP. Toll is continuing to deliver fuel in the Northland region however BP has taken over delivery of some of the work to ensure continuity of services to its customers.
“We will continue to negotiate with the union and our employees in good faith, and implore the union to do the same.”
Background according to Toll New Zealand Group:
- Toll delivers fuel for BP to its customers and retail sites in the Northland region.
- Toll takes its safety obligations seriously. Union allegations of breaches of the Transport Act with reference to log books have been fully investigated and the CVIU are satisfied that Toll are operating within the law. New Zealand Police confirmed there is no support for the allegations from the FIRST Union, and that there is no evidence of work-time breaches as GPS and log book data was confidentially given to the police to validate Toll’s safety performance.
- Toll has been negotiating a collective agreement for some of its northern fuel drivers with the FIRST Union since January.
- Toll New Zealand’s pay structure is based on its drivers completing competency assessments over a period of time to reach the top pay level which is in-line with its competitors.
- Toll reviews its drivers pay rates annually, and in each of the past five years has applied annual increases.
- Toll continues to negotiate in good faith, and does not agree with the misrepresentation of facts by the union, however it is hopeful of reaching an agreement shortly.
