Rail cleaning contracted out

South Australia's rail cleaners will lose their jobs as of April 1, 
after which date cleaning of stations and rail carriages will be contracted 
out to a private company.

As far as the Public Transport Union (PTU) is aware, TransAdelaide, the 
corporatised public rail company, has not yet publicly sought tenders for 
the work, even though the contracting out is supposed to start next month.

"There are 20 of us left and we have just been told by TransAdelaide that 
our jobs are to be contracted out and that we will be left on the scrap 
heap", read a statement from the cleaners.

"Every time the government contracts out a public service they claim cost 
savings and improved public services. The reality has been that service 
levels always drop as the new private owner tries to gouge profits from the 
service.

"Usually this is achieved by a combination of cuts to quality and cuts in 
jobs, wages and conditions", read the statement.

The PTU said that after the night shift cleaners had their jobs contracted 
out, the standard of cleaning dropped noticeably.

"In this instance, the cost to the public will not only be dirtier trains 
and stations, but will also include paying twice for the reduced services -
- once for the contractor and once again to pay us wage maintenance until 
we retire", read the statement.

From April 1, the sacked cleaners will be re-deployed to re-training and 
career counselling. They will continue to be paid the same wages for up to 
two years, depending on their length of service.

"We do not want wage maintenance nor do we want the dole — we want to do 
our jobs — not waste away on a scrap heap."

"When TransAdelaide told us we would be effectively sacked from our work we 
asked them to give us the figures on our efficiency.

"We are working $40,000 under budget and have fulfilled all of the cost 
savings asked of us."