Union warns Geelong jobs under threat amid State Government VicRoads plan
Geelong jobs are at stake under a State Government move to outsource or part-privatise VicRoads services, the Australian Services Union has warned.
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GEELONG jobs are at stake under a State Government move to outsource or part-privatise VicRoads services, the Australian Services Union has warned.
The union accused the Andrews Government of turning its back on regional workers, by failing to rule out cutting jobs or reducing workers’ pay and conditions in its push to review the registration and licensing function of VicRoads.
“Treasurer Tim Pallas has answered questions about the part-privatisation of VicRoads in parliament but hasn’t once mentioned the jobs of hardworking staff at the Geelong Customer Services Centre,” Australian Services Union assistant branch secretary Leon Wiegard said.
“Any form of privatisation is a huge hit to regional communities where state authorities provide permanent secure jobs with decent pay and working conditions.
“The Andrews Government is so focused on the money that will come from the part-privatisation of VicRoads that they have forgotten that people’s jobs and family incomes are at stake.
“Any cut to the wages of VicRoads staff or staffing levels in regional VicRoads Customer Service Centres would be bad for regional communities.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas this week would not guarantee that no jobs will be lost, nor that workers’ pay and conditions will not be reduced, through the potential changes.
“We’ve been very clear on this – we will not privatise the registration and licensing function of VicRoads,” Mr Pallas said in response to the union’s criticism.
“We are looking at several options to make licensing and registration more efficient and easier for motorists.”
The State Government last month revealed it had launched a detailed “scoping study” to investigate future options for VicRoads’ Registration and Licencing Division, managed by consultancy firm KPMG.
The study will examine options including private sector partnerships or the integration of the system into Service Victoria.
“We hope to deliver savings for motorists and are looking at several options for more efficient licensing and registration,” Mr Pallas last month.
Originally published as Union warns Geelong jobs under threat amid State Government VicRoads plan