Railway staff cuts

Railway workers took 24-hour strike action last Friday in defence of the 
public railways, which are threatened with downgrading of services, staff 
cuts, and unstaffed and unsafe stations.

The mass media attacked the station and signal workers, members of the 
Australian Services Union, for causing "chaos" for commuters. But the media 
paid little attention to the reason for the strike — the staff cuts to 
stations which will result in worse problems for commuters and are 
guaranteed to last longer than 24 hours.

As a result of the media's coverage, or lack of it, many commuters thought 
the strike was because train drivers must be seeking a pay increase.

Media "commentators" laughed at the suggestion by unions that commuters 
would be sympathetic to the strike, but any hostility from the public is 
more due to the refusal by these commentators to inform the public of the 
real issues, than by the action of the railway workers.

Cuts of up to 500 station workers have begun to be implemented and have 
already resulted in a number of stations becoming unstaffed.

Some of these unstaffed stations were recently identified in a study as 
being likely to become crime hot spots if station staff were removed.

Public sector cuts

The reduction of station staff is a step towards the further piecemeal 
privatisation of the railways, such as has already taken place in 
maintenance and security.

It is connected to the downsizing and privatisation taking place across the 
public sector.

The NSW Trades and Labor Council is planning a joint public services rally 
at Parliament House, on the October 19, to reinforce the outrage of union 
members and officials over the Government's treatment of workers in NSW.

The Carr Government has taken five percent from each public department to 
offset the Olympics.

Yet, instead of building worker solidarity to undertake the numerous major 
events in the year 2000, the Labor Premier has decided to hatchet workers' 
job security.

Some of the effects are the Municipal Employees' Union expects 1,700 job 
cuts from local councils; Road Traffic Authority 2,000 job cuts in line 
with the State Competition Policy; TAFE teachers 500 job cuts; State Rail 
Authority up to 2,000, with rural positions the hardest hit; Sydney Water 
up to 3,000 jobs.

"Carpet bombing" of Agreements

In CityRail, the Minister for Transport Carl Scully has put in place 
numerous `functional agreements' (an agreement inside an EBA).

Workers in other areas are oblivious to the continual shredding conditions 
within the workplace, i.e. drivers functional agreement; guard functional 
agreement; timetables section functional agreement, etc.

Once all agreements are finalised, workers will find they are totally 
isolated and vulnerable.

McMulti-skilled

CityRail has advertised for "Customer Service Attendants" to do everything 
including "provide information and assistance to customers using station 
facilities as well as ensuring that stations are clean and well presented" 
— much the same role as a "manager" at McDonalds.

The "multi-skilled" Customer Service Attendants will do the jobs of several 
workers. They will assist people to use the automated ticket collecting 
machines, thereby cutting down on human ticket collectors; they will also 
replace station managers, staff and cleaners.

They will be "permanent part-time (15-30 hours per week)". CityRail 
describes it as "a dynamic working environment". Unions involved in last 
Friday's strike would describe it as a dynamic environment for unemployment 
and reduced services.

Back to index page