Excess train workers who did not join Keolis Downer will work four days a week elsewhere in public sector

Train workers who opted not to join the network’s new private operator have been offered different positions within the public sector.

Rail workers entering the meeting at University of South Australia’s City West Campus on Monday. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Train workers who decided against transferring to new operator Keolis Downer will be found four days of work a week somewhere within the public sector, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union says.

They will also be afforded one day a week to search for jobs, according to the union.

On Monday, about 100 rail workers filed into an auditorium at the University of South Australia’s City West Campus to hear from the State Government about how it intended to redeploy some excess workers into different roles and make others available to work for the new operator.

Voluntary redundancies were also on offer.

Rail, Tram and Bus Union SA secretary Darren Phillips described the situation as “a mess”.

“The onus is now on the State Government to find these people meaningful work, and to provide with appropriate retraining,” he said.

Mr Phillips also took aim at the fact that Keolis Downer was “borrowing” Government workers to cover staff shortages. About 100 public servants have been made available to the company for up to 18 months.

“So after all this expense, and distress to workers, the State Government still ends up employing much of the rail workforce anyway,” Mr Phillips said.

“It makes you wonder, what is the point of it all?”

Keolis Downer has officially taken over Adelaide’s rail network. Picture: Russell Millard

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said the saga was “absolute nonsense”.

“Today’s example of seeing dozens of workers being paid for by South Australian taxpayers, being hurried into a waiting lounge to sit around and do nothing is a classic example of how privatisation fails taxpayers and hurts the people of South Australia,” he said.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard on Monday said the Government was “keen to see rail staff who’ve chosen not to go over to the new operator transfer into new exciting careers in the South Australian public sector”.

“Today’s meeting is the first of a number of information and induction sessions that will outline where their opportunities exist to continue to deliver services to the community of South Australia in another capacity,” he said.

“This will ensure the employees have access to the training and support required.”

Mr Wingard described it as “an exciting time for these staff”.

“We thank them for their continuing dedication to the public sector and I certainly wish them well in their future endeavours,” he said.

Mr Wingard pointed out that “the former Labor government were the creators of the job for life scheme when they negotiated the last enterprise bargaining agreement”.