Government Cuts Undermine Services says Cahill

The program of job cuts and attacks on the working conditions of public sector workers will place further stress on the delivery of services to the public, the Public Service Association said today.

Responding to the Premier's announcement today, PSA general secretary John Cahill said the proposals were against the public interest.

Responding to the key planks of the Premier's plan, Mr Cahill said:

• cutting 5,000 frontline support workers will put increased pressure on frontline workers to provide the administrative accountability that the public demands.
• these cuts will only place further stress on workers' health, stress that a 'crack down' on access to workers compensation rights will not paper over.
• cutting the 'unattached' workers list will mean that departments undergoing restructures will lack adequate staff during the transition phase.
• cutting overtime will only ensure that the extra work, caused by the job cuts, will not get done.

"While the PSA is always prepared to discuss efficiencies with the government, we can not condone a slash and burn exercise which cuts services on the back of offensive stereotypes about the workers who dedicate themselves to the public service.

"The public sector has already been cut by one third in real terms since 1980, today's changes will only wind it back further. The public wants to see governments come up with plans to improve services, not cut them."

Mr Cahill said the PSA would impose work bans on all jobs that are cut, meaning existing members would not carry out the work from their colleague whose job is eradicated.

"We will be seeking a meeting with the Premier to get a clear indication of the work he wants our members to stop doing," Mr Cahill said.

Click here to go to the the Premier's Economic & Financial Statement.