Tasmanian public sector workers were given as little as 20 minutes' notice before being told about job cuts affecting their teams, with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) accusing the state government of mishandling the process, ABC reported.
About 250 jobs are expected to be cut across Building Tasmania and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
CPSU state secretary Thirza White said, “People are talking about this feeling like a massacre,” White said, describing Tuesday as a “brutal day”.
Staff told about cuts in team meetings
White said some staff were called into meetings with little notice and shown organisational charts that no longer included their roles.
“Some people walked in and were shown an organisational chart where their role wasn't on that … what we hear from others is that they're walking in and the team is six, and now the team is three,” she said.
“What we have is a government and agencies that are drip-feeding information and what workers deserve and need is clarity around what the new structure is.”
The government is expected to release more details of the restructure on Wednesday afternoon.
State Growth has been renamed Building Tasmania, with its focus narrowed to infrastructure. Several of its former functions have been moved to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
250 jobs targeted
About 111 workers had already accepted voluntary redundancies before staff were told another 150 positions would be cut.
Affected workers will be offered voluntary redundancies or placed on a redeployment list. Those on the list could be offered another government role or lose their jobs after six months.
The CPSU expected to receive organisational charts and a list of required positions on Wednesday.
Government defends restructure
Building Tasmania Minister Kerry Vincent said, “We, as always, are keen to work through with everybody involved to make sure that we are driving efficiencies through the public service.”
Asked about concerns over the handling of the cuts, Vincent said, “I feel for everybody in the system because change is always difficult for some to adjust to,” he said.
“But I ask everybody to keep an open mind to what we are trying to achieve here and work through it with us.”
A spokesperson later clarified that Vincent had seen the restructure plans but was not aware of exactly which details would be released that afternoon.
Greens call for other savings
Acting Greens Leader Vica Bayley called for the government to consider other measures, including raising new revenue and abandoning the Hobart stadium project at Macquarie Point.
“Salmon farming corporations, mining companies, property developers and the gambling industry are all getting an easy ride while public services and the Tasmanians who rely on them are paying the price,” he said.
“Continuing with the Macquarie Point stadium while slashing public service jobs is just cold-hearted.”
The Tasmanian government has outlined plans to reduce public sector jobs as part of efforts to control spending. The state budget targets 1,700 job cuts by 2030 and a further 100 by 2032.
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