RailCorp failed to fill 22 vacant positions at Town Hall station for several years, in breach of its legal obligations, the Federal Court has found.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union said the case highlighted systemic understaffing across many stations, where hundreds of positions have gone unfilled, and was a ''huge slap in the face for the Premier'' as he talks up train travel.
''At a time when more passengers are using public transport than ever before, RailCorp has been caught red-handed understaffing the rail network,'' said the union's branch secretary, Nick Lewocki.
The situation at Town Hall station had put passenger safety and security at risk, he said.
''Insufficient staffing at major stations could be disastrous in the event of an emergency, or if people need to be evacuated,'' he said.
The Federal Court decision relates to RailCorp's obligation to advertise and fill positions that become vacant, or declare whether they will continue to be ''authorised positions'' within four weeks, under its union collective agreement with staff.
But internal documents showed that the 22 positions that fell vacant at Town Hall during 2006, 2007 and 2008 were subject to a note to the station manager from management and human resources to either ''hold onto these until I get some advice-clearance to recruit'', or ''do not action''. All of the positions were frontline customer service roles. Many stayed vacant for at least a year. Fourteen of the jobs remain unfilled.
Mr Lewocki said the court decision meant RailCorp could no longer stall hiring staff as a cost-cutting measure.
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