National transport operator SCT has sidelined 600 staff after the closure of the east-west rail line, as supermarkets in WA limit how much people can buy.
National transport operator SCT Group has been forced to sideline 600 staff and contractors after the closure of the nation’s east-west rail freight line, as the worsening supply chain crisis in Western Australia jolted the big supermarkets into imposing buying caps on everything from pasta and eggs to toilet paper and chicken breasts.
SCT, one of the nation’s biggest transport operators, has stood down truck drivers due to a lack of work following the shutdown of the nation’s key east-west rail line.Permanent staff have been encouraged to take paid leave and can overdraw leave entitlements by up to five days if no paid leave is available, while contractors and subcontractors are out of work given there is nothing to do.
But in WA, Transport Workers Union state secretary Tim Dawson said truck drivers were being stood down this week as freight dried up, noting small fleet owners that contract to major companies, along with casuals, would be most affected. He said some enterprise agreements included disaster pay for a “period of time”, but it was a serious situation.
At Coles, buyers face similar limits along with some meat products, such as two chicken thighs and breasts. Both retailers, however, stressed the bulk of fresh produce, including milk, meat, fruit and vegetables, was grown or produced in WA. “This flood has really showcased just how bad things are infrastructure-wise for WA and supply wise. The whole system has collapsed,” said one truck driver who has been stood down. The driver said derailments were common due to the state of the rail line.
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