The Public Service Association of NSW has slammed the Government’s Mini-Budget, saying it will have a devastating effect on the Public Service workforce with 2,000 jobs expected to vanish immediately.
In his reply to the Mini-Budget, General Secretary of the PSA NSW, John Cahill labeled it a “complete disaster” and said the four privatisation areas – Pillar Administration which looked after PS superannuation, State Lotteries, Waste Services and Parklea and Cessnock jails – would drive the job cuts.
Union hits out at PS policy
“It [the Mini-Budget] uses weasel words like ‘We will make Government Departments and Authorities more efficient’,” Mr Cahill said. “What that really means is that there will be job cuts across the board, across the Public Sector.” Mr Cahill said the freeze on recruitment of new staff meant another 2,000 staff would exit the Public Sector, meaning there would be less support for the Government’s frontline workers. He said the Public Sector could not sustain the job cuts. “The Government expects those workers remaining in the Public Sector to get by and to do the work and provide the services they currently do,” he said. “We don't believe the Public Sector can sustain job cuts of this magnitude and we are going to do something about it.” Mr Cahill said the PSA would re-launch its ‘Job Cuts = Service Cuts’ campaign that was used last year, which reinforced that every job that is cut out of the Public Sector meant a cut in services to the public. He has urged all Public Servants to get in touch with their Local Member of Parliament. “We will continue that campaign for as long as it takes to hold this Government accountable and to have those jobs restored,” he said. “I urge you all to get in touch with your Local Member, let them know just how hard you work and just how valuable your job is.” “The only thing that politicians understand is political pressure so the more pressure we can put on politicians, the better it is,” he said.
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