Construction has begun on transport and logistics group Toll’s new $24 million hub in Hobart, while the company threatens thousands of employees planning a strike.

Toll Group managing director Brian Kruger has issued a written warning to employees who will today start voting in a ballot that could result in workers approving a 72-hour strike. The industrial action is planned to support the Transport Workers Union's push for a 16 per cent pay rise and guarantees over the use of contract labour.

Meanwhile, construction on the new intermodal freight terminal at Toll's Brighton Transport Hub in Hobart has commenced. The 16,000m2 transport facility is being constructed on a 6.8ha site. It will handle general and refrigerated freight, warehousing and distribution services and also provide container storage for domestic and international shipping requirements.

Toll Tasmania’s General Manager Tony Stewart said: “Toll’s investment in this facility underpins our commitment to Tasmania, in particular to Hobart and the southern regional businesses. By mid-next year we will have the most modern and efficient transport terminal in the state.”

Back on the mainland Toll says it cannot bend to workers’ demands put forth by the TWU. In a letter obtained by the media Brian Kruger says: “"Agreeing to these requests will create an unacceptable risk to the competitiveness of our business... you probably know that Toll has already suffered from recent write-downs and contract losses in some of the most challenging economic conditions Australia has seen for some time. Few businesses are growing in Australia. Many are collapsing. We all know about mass job losses at Ford, Holden, Target, ANZ, Rio Tinto, BHP and other big employers.”

Toll employees will now decide their next step. Up to 8500 staff at 400 sites will be balloted by the Australian Electoral Commission on forms of industrial action, including strike action of up to 72 hours. The ballot will end on August 5.