Queensland unions fear another 1000 jobs are about to be shed from the public service, after more than 200 jobs were lost in another “Black Friday”.
Public sector union Together says it’s hearing consistent rumours that 500 jobs will go from the Department of Agriculture and a further 500 will be lost from the Department of Natural Resources.
Together secretary Alex Scott says the rumours come on top of Friday’s announcement that over 200 jobs in the Department of Public Works will be slashed.
The unions are calling it another Black Friday – a reference to June 29 when about 3000 workers on temporary contracts lost employment.
“What we are seeing from this government is cut after cut after cut,” Mr Scott told reporters in Brisbane on Friday.
“The government is having no reference at all to the impact these job (cuts) are going to have on Queensland communities or Queensland services.”
Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg announced the retreat from printers GoPrint, the QFleet vehicle maintenance workshop and Sales and Distribution Services on Friday.
The tough decision to axe 208 jobs was in line with the government objective to “get the state back on track”, he said.
Dr Flegg has come under fire from Premier Campbell Newman for appointing Liberal National Party (LNP) treasurer Barry O’Sullivan to review GoPrint’s finances.
Mr Scott wants the government to reveal Mr O’Sullivan’s hand in the decision and whether donations to the LNP by private printers played a part in it.
“Are they looking after their mates in relation to closing down profitable businesses for the sake of party donors?” he said.
The union estimates the government has slashed 10,000 public sector jobs since it came to power in March.
This is said to be having a disastrous effect on morale, as workers are finding out about their job losses from the media.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says some GoPrint shift workers on Friday won’t yet know they’ve lost their jobs.
Together members have started voting for a campaign of “unprecedented” industrial action in August if the government refuses to be transparent about the job cuts.
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh confirmed some cuts on Friday, but denied front-line officers or key services would be scrapped.
His office could not say how many jobs were in the firing line.
Meanwhile, unions hijacked a presentation to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission by under-treasurer Helen Gluer on Friday.
Ms Gluer presented a brief summary of the commission of audit, ahead of laws that require the commission to consider the state’s financial position when it makes wages decisions.
Unions argue it’s an exaggerated account and that the commission was only being given one version of events.
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