UnionsNSW: Workers suffer under budget cuts

The budget papers reveal at least 5000 public sector jobs will be cut by the O'Farrell Government, with thousands more to go through natural attrition.

Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said the first budget of the O'Farrell Government would be remembered for undermining public services and the people who deliver them.

"Tonight, thousands of public sector workers will be anxiously pondering their future, hoping their job is not on the chopping block," Mr Lennon said.
"The Government has absolutely no mandate for this, there was no mention of mass job cuts before the election."

The Government must immediately answer a series of questions:

• Will the 5000 job losses be treated as true 'voluntary' redundancies or will these workers be put on the excess employees list and given no option but to leave the public sector?
• How many positions will be shed through natural attrition and staff turnover?
• How will $6 billion in 'efficiency dividends' be achieved and what will it mean for service delivery and jobs?

How will the privatisation of Port Botany affect its workforce and the local community?
"Public sector workers and the broader community have every right to feel duped and let down. This Government promised to improve public services. Instead, they're sacking crucial public sector workers and selling off public assets."

Mr Lennon criticised the Government for drawing an artificial distinction between 'front line' and 'back office' public sector workers.
"The fact is, if you gut the back offices of our public sector agencies, you'll end up drowning police officers, nurses and firefighters in a sea of paperwork," Mr Lennon said.
Unions believe the Government's unfair workplace policies will make recruitment of extra nurses, police and teachers extremely difficult.

The Treasurer spoke of maintaining the real value of wages in his budget speech, yet his own economic forecast shows inflation will outpace the Government's wages cap over the next two years.
"This Government thinks it can attract nurses and teachers to the profession and yet it's offering wages that will go backwards in real terms over the next two years."

Mr Lennon said the Treasurer was risking the health of the NSW economy with today's announcement.
"The Treasurer is telling us today that the NSW economy is in a soft patch, but he's cutting jobs and services. NSW deserves better."