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Purpose – The study investigates the extent to which the relationship commitment by customers of road transport service providers is influenced by trust, communication, shared values and the attractiveness of alternatives. In turn, the influence of the extent of their commitment towards future loyalty is determined. Design/methodology/approach – An explanatory research design was followed and data was collected from road transport service provider customers using self-administered questionnaires. A total of 120 responses were suitable for analysis. Multiple regression analysis as well as the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique was used to analyse the results and to uncover the interrelationships between constructs. Findings – Trust, shared values and attractiveness of alternatives can be regarded as predictors of both customer commitment and customer loyalty and must become the key elements in a business relationship building strategy in the bulk road transport industry in South Africa Research implications – The model tested confirms the hypothesised relationships between trust, communication, shared values, the attractiveness of alternatives commitment and loyalty of road transport customers. Customer commitment is linked to three of its four antecedents (trust, shared values and the attractiveness of alternatives) and their outcome, loyalty. Managerial implications – The findings assist bulk road transport service providers in South Africa that if they become more trustworthy, communicates effectively, shares in the same values as their customers and offers a superior service at exceptional prices, customer commitment will be the result, which directly and positively influences customer loyalty. Originality/value –An understanding of the factors that could assist bulk road transport providers in fostering customer loyalty within a business environment might assist them in maintaining their client base, and develop strategies to strengthen business service need requirements. Few research studies, however, have examined how customer commitment and customer loyalty relate to the antecedents and outcome in the South African transport industry.

After three years of trying, the Coalition Government finally succeeded in obtaining passage of several key workplace reform statutes in 2016. This followed the outcome of the federal election held on 2 July, delivering the Government a differently composed Senate and a new opportunity to secure support for its legislative program. This review article explains key aspects of the industrial legislation passed by federal Parliament in 2016, including statutes abolishing the specialist road transport industry tribunal, re-establishing the Howard-era regulator for the construction industry, and setting up a new agency to enforce enhanced governance and accountability standards for registered unions and employer organisations. Legislative amendments aimed at resolving the long-running bargaining dispute in Victoria’s Country Fire Authority are also considered, along with the Government’s muted response to the 2015 Productivity Commission review of the workplace relations framework. The article then examines developments at state level, including a major rewrite of Queensland’s industrial legislation, structural changes in New South Wales, and proposed changes to long service leave and the labour hire sector in Victoria. It concludes by noting the irony that just as the federal Government has tasted some success after a long legislative ‘dry spell’, its labour law reform agenda appears limited and piecemeal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2012 produced a high volume of developments in the industrial relations law sphere. The Review of the operation of the Fair Work legislation dominated the federal agenda and, accordingly, is the primary focus of this article. We detail key recommendations and outcomes of the Review, including associated amendments. Next, we consider other federal changes, which were expansive in focus. Federal reforms included: a new legislated employee entitlements scheme to replace the administrative General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme; new regulation of the road transport industry; an overhaul of workplace gender equality legislation; revised governance obligations for registered organisations; and the introduction of the ‘dad and partner pay’ scheme as part of the Commonwealth's parental leave package. Turning to the states and territories, we summarise public sector workplace law changes in both New South Wales and Queensland and address other notable developments across jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]