NSW: Up to 1000 staff could go in RIC cuts; Oppn
SYDNEY, Aug 29 AAP - The jobs of up to 1,000 rail staff were in jeopardy under a majorcutback plan at the Rail Infrastructure Corporation, the NSW opposition said today.
The NSW infrastructure body today said 350 positions would be cut back mainly in theSydney area with the rest in the Newcastle and Wagga Wagga regions, but no forced redundancieswould be made.
But opposition transport spokesman Peter Debnam said up to 1,000 jobs were in dangerin the cutbacks, including many frontline rail positions.
"The government is suggesting that the 350 jobs to go are basically support workers,"
he said in Sydney.
"That's not what I'm hearing from within the rail system.
"I understand the numbers could be up to 1,000 and they include many frontline trackmaintenance staff."
The cutbacks would be happening in two stages over the next 12 months, with stage onein the next few months and stage two early next year, he said.
"It's very clear whether it's 350 or 1,000 rail workers across the state, these areexperienced rail workers about to go, at a time when the state rail system is in crisis,"
he said.
Reassurances from State Rail and the government that the sackings would not affectcommuters or safety were useless, he said.
AAP kp/arb/mg
KEYWORD: RAIL DEBNAM
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