Industrial action further strains under-pressure delivery services

Australia's strained postal system is now facing another challenge. Hundreds of StarTrack employees have gone on strike for 24 hours. It follows industrial action from Toll last month - and more expected next week. This, at a time when parcel delivery services are already under pressure.

StarTrack workers on strike in Brisbane after crisis talks failed. Source: AAP

Courier and freight service Star Track had offered workers a 9 per cent payrise over three years, with options for workers to negotiate if they are casual or full-time - but that offer was rejected.

FedEx, LinFox and BevChain employees say they will down tools next week.

Last month 7,000 TOLL truck drivers stopped deliveries for a day. It caused delays as millions of locked-down east coast shoppers and retailers depend on deliveries.

Australia Post owns Star Track.

It was already under pressure, handling two million packages a day. Now it's forecasting more delays from the strike - mainly in Victoria.

Australians are expected to buy $11 billion in gifts, according to a Roy Morgan survey in which participants said they'd buy more presents online this year, than they did in 2020.

Parcels from interstate already take up to two or even three weeks to hit their target.

 

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