A DARK cloud hangs over the future of 150 western suburbs employees left out of work by the sudden collapse of national trucking company 1st Fleet.
Workers turned up to the Sunshine depot on Thursday to find they had been locked out and their jobs terminated.
At 11.55 on Wednesday night, administrators deVries Tayeh announced 1st Fleet companies would cease trading. An estimated 600 workers lost their jobs Australia-wide.
In a statement, the administrators blamed managing director Stephen Brown’s “inability to meet certain pre-arranged commitments” for loss of access to funding. “This is a regrettable outcome, but deVries Tayeh are working closely with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) to assist 1st Fleet’s workforce in being placed with other employment.”
Employee Luong Tieu said he was shocked to turn up for work only to find the gates locked and his job gone. “This morning we got told there was no more work. They just gave us the letter that told us that they were closed.” The Sunshine resident, 53, had worked at 1st Fleet as a forklift driver for five years. He said workers remained in the dark about money they were owed.
The company was placed into administration on Anzac Day, with workers told a plan would be found to keep the group trading.
TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon laid the blame at the feet of major retailers. He said the closure highlighted how major retailers were “squeezing the life out of Australian truckies and suppliers”.
