The Transport Workers Union has petitioned Small Business Minister Bruce Billson do step in and do something about the major Australian supermarkets’ increasing stranglehold on smaller operators.

The TWU has reportedly told Mr Billson that lives are now stake as domineering retailers continue putting the squeeze on smaller-scale suppliers.

WU national secretary Tony Sheldon said: “I welcome the comments from Minister Billson reported in the media that major retailers like Coles are engaged in ‘harsh bargaining’ towards food suppliers.

“As with the food and farming industries, the economic power of Coles and other major retailers allows them to dictate to truck drivers and the road transport industry to do more for less.”

Mr Sheldon responded to recent revelations that Coles is making efforts to further reduce transport costs, aiming for a cut of five per cent this year according Coles transport manager Craig Wickham in cross examination at the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.

“These ‘harsh bargaining’ practices in the food industry threaten jobs and businesses – but in the road transport industry they threaten lives,” Mr Sheldon said

“This was graphically highlighted on Sydney’s northern beaches, when a Cootes transport petrol tanker crash resulted in a number of tragic deaths.

“Cootes, which carries fuel in the Coles supply chain, was subsequently found to have dozens of unsafe trucks on the roads. It seems that the pressure to keep low price contracts no matter what, meant that maintenance was squeezed.”

“If Minister Billson and the government are serious about standing up for small businesses, and about road safety, then it is critical they continue to support this tribunal and demand Coles and the rest stop squeezing the life out of suppliers,” Sheldon said

Professor Michael Rawling from the University of Technology Sydney said in testimony to the Federal Government’s Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal this week: “Major retail clients can exercise influence over the maximum price paid and the maximum travel time available for truck journeys to deliver client freight… drivers frequently must accept work terms and conditions put to them, or fail to receive the work. It is these drivers who end up bearing any of the subsequent adverse consequences.”