Victorian unions banding together to rally against the Allan government plan to cut 3000 jobs

Victoria’s bureaucrats and public servants are preparing a protest outside Treasury after being left stunned by the Allan government’s claim it will slash 3000 jobs.

The Allan government is being hit with a union backlash to its plan to cut 3000 jobs, with teachers, nurses, firefighters, and public servants set to march on Treasury Place protesting against the shock move.

The job cut plan was unveiled without warning in February, taking unions by surprise and sources told the Herald Sun the government’s move not to consult their union base ahead of the announcement had sent shockwaves through the union movement.

The Herald Sun has confirmed that six unions, representing thousands of Victorian workers, have already committed to rallying against the job cuts on March 3.

This includes members of the powerful firefighters’ union, teachers’ union, Community Public Sector Union, and workers’ union.

Jacinta Allan’s announcement to cut jobs caught unions by surprise. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian Trades Hall Council’s Luke Hilakari slammed the proposed axing of the public sector jobs, which Treasurer Jaclyn Symes admitted would go as part of a budget clean-out.

“One in 10 Victorians work in the public sector and their agencies,” he said.

“This is not just 3000 families worried about finding for a new job, but it affects everyone left behind.

“People in these jobs want to know if 3000 workers are sacked, who is going to pick up that work? What services will be wound back? Will ‘frontline’ workers be forced to do the work of those who are shown the door.”

Mr Hilakari also pointed out the plan would see millions paid out in “expensive” redundancies.

Thousands of CFMEU members marched through the city to protest the government’s decision to put the union into administration. Picture: Darrian Traynor

Community and Public Sector Union secretary Karen Batt has previously likened the government’s proposed cuts to the US DOGE-style clear out being carried out under President Donald Trump.

She told the Herald Sun that the Labor government would also likely be paying external consultants million-dollar contracts to carry out reviews to say where the jobs will be cut and warned Ms Symes, who is the Treasurer, as well as Industrial Relations Minister, that there could be repercussions.

“No one has overlooked the irony of government paying a consultant to find savings,” she said.

“Everyone employed works together to deliver high quality public services. The Treasurer should remove the job cuts threat and work constructively, not destructively, reminding herself she’s also IR Minister and agreements exist that deal with all proposed change.”

Unions workers rally at Parliament House in 2019. Picture: Getty

The new union rallies come after thousands of tradies walked off Big Build sites in Victoria just five months ago protesting the move to put the CFMEU into administration, although sources have said the March 3 rally will not garner as many members with trade unions not likely to participate.

The last time the government tried to cut jobs they, consultancy disclosures showed the Department of Premier and Cabinet spent more than $1.15m for the Nous Group and Deloitte to assist with a review on staff cuts.

Tenders were also put out for The Department of Treasury and Finance, and the previously named department of The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

But the cuts were abandoned due to the pandemic.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the new independent review into the public service in February.

She said the review would have a “laser focus on every dollar of expenditure”.

Originally published as Victorian unions banding together to rally against the Allan government plan to cut 3000 jobs