Beer supplies across Australia Day long weekend under threat as transport union warns of strike action
Beer stocks are at risk of running out over the Australia Day long weekend as transport workers plan to strike over a pay dispute.
Transport Workers Union WA (TWU) said drivers working for Qube Logistics in Western Australia and Victoria will stop working 24 hours a day from 5am on Wednesday, putting the supply of Asahi beer, Coca-Cola and Mondelez chocolates at risk over the long weekend.
The union plans to disrupt supply chains if the logistics company continues to reject drivers’ pay demands, conditions and a unified agreement to align Western Australian drivers with their Victorian counterparts.
The TWU is pushing for a national agreement on decent wages and safe working conditions after some drivers failed to receive a “fair pay rise” in four years.
TWU WA State Secretary Tim Dawson said consolidating the Qube agreement at a national level was a critical part of the union’s 2026 plan to raise standards across the sector.
“Transport is already Australia’s deadliest industry. Fragmentary deals and cost-cutting will only make the situation worse,” he said.
“TWU has a plan for 2026. Combining deals like Qube’s across provinces is the way to stop the race to the bottom and protect safe, sustainable jobs.”
TWU VIC/TAS Organizing Director Sam Lynch said workers’ wages were falling behind.
“Qube, which is recording profit increases on a year-on-year basis, needs to get back to the negotiating table and get serious.”
A Qube spokesman said it was “disappointing” the union was trying to launch a “fake scare campaign” rather than engage in good-faith negotiations.
The company has alternative supply arrangements in place should strike action continue to mitigate any impact to customers, supply chains or consumers.
The action is expected to involve five drivers in Western Australia and up to 12 drivers in Victoria.
“The fact is that the TWU rejected a pay offer that would have seen workers on agreements in Victoria and WA receive pay increases of more than 12 per cent over the next three years and they have subsequently walked away from the negotiating table,” a spokesman said.
“We call on the union to urgently resume negotiations so that we can resolve this dispute in the interests of workers.”
