Media Release – Government finally fesses up to workers

Five months after the first announcement that public transport in Newcastle faced privatisation, Transport for NSW will finally meet with staff to discuss their futures.

The meeting, repeatedly called for by RTBU Bus Division Secretary Chris Preston, will finally give workers an opportunity to ask questions directly to government about the Transport for Newcastle initiative and what a private operator will mean for jobs and services on Newcastle.

“The union has been calling for more information and more transparency from government since the privatisation was announced in November last year,” Mr Preston said.

“Instead, the Premier and Transport Minister have kept all their plans under wraps until the very last minute, with drivers and other transport staff hearing about changes that could affect their jobs and their futures from passengers or on the radio.

“Even after Mike Baird promised to update workers about the changes at a protest rally in December last year, that has not happened.

“It’s unacceptable for a government to treat their employees with such disregard.”

Bus and ferry services will cease during the two-hour meeting, a situation that the union said could have been avoided.

“It is unfortunate that the situation has got to this point, but this inconvenience could have been avoided if the government had been upfront and honest with workers from the beginning,” Mr Preston said.

“There are more than 350 staff in Newcastle that will be affected by the government’s privatisation plans, and they have not heard a word about them from the Transport Minister or Transport for NSW, only what they decide to release to the media.

“We had no choice but to demand a meeting so workers knew exactly what was going on with their jobs. The government is taking away certainty from hundreds of workers in the Hunter, and they deserve answers.