Job cuts send ‘alarm bells ringing’ in Brisbane council
By Tony Moore
More than 7000 Brisbane City Council staff are “genuinely worried” about job cuts, two major unions covering the council’s workforce said on Tuesday.
“Alarm bells” are ringing among the 7019 staff, including 400 to 500 casual bus drivers, some library workers and other “community-facing” employees, both The Services and Rail, Tram and Bus unions said.
Brisbane City Council emphatically denied bus drivers were impacted, saying they were contracted positions and not impacted by any spending cuts.
The issue arose following an announcement last week by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner that spending would be cut 10 per cent across council’s $4.3 billion budget and two green bridge projects delayed.
Two major unions say Brisbane City Council staff are nervous about possible jobs cuts, despite assurances no permanent positions will be lost.Credit: Michelle Smith
Schrinner last week said while no full-time council jobs would be lost, cuts would be made to travel, advertising, paid consultants and council’s ward offices budget.
He added contractors, consultants, agency work and footpath and road resurfacing workers – meaning some private-sector contract jobs and contracts – would also be lost.
The council annual report identifies that 10 per cent of its staff are casual, including between 400 and 500 bus drivers and some library staff.
Tom Rivers, lead organiser for The Services Union, said the council’s senior management had spoken with the union about possible job cuts.
“They have assured us that they will be consulting with us over any job cuts,” Rivers told Brisbane Times.
Schrinner last week said a report would be finalised in November showing where the 10 per cent savings drive would impact the council’s $4.3 billion budget.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced a 3.45 per cent residential rates rise in June 2023, but then a 10 per cent savings cut in October.Credit: Matt Dennien
Rivers said staff were nervous, despite assurances no permanent jobs would be lost.
“That would include a lot of casual bus drivers that’s for sure,” he said.
“For example a lot of our library members, or our members who work in the community spaces.
“The fear is that while budget cuts may not entail job losses, it means no one is covered if people go on annual leave, or maternity leave. They’re the things our members are starting to think about.”
The Rail Tram and Bus Union’s assistant Queensland secretary Tom Brown said while the permanent part-time bus drivers were “all right, alarm bells were definitely ringing in the bus depots for the casuals”.
He said the union was waiting for information on the impact on between 400 and 500 casual bus drivers and the impact on new bus routes due out in late October.
“We just don’t know where that [finding drivers for new routes] is going to land,” Brown said.
He said there was nothing definite about reducing jobs from the council.
A spokesman for Schrinner said the union claims were wrong and said the lord mayor had ruled out cuts to bus drivers last week.
But Brown said $430 million savings was a lot of money.
“The casual drivers are worried, absolutely,” he said.
“They’re worried because they can be cut at a moment’s notice. They’re already making calls to other operators.”
Opposition leader Jared Cassidy will use a council meeting on Tuesday to ask Schrinner why 10 per cent cuts had to be made so soon after the June 2023 Council Budget.
At that time Schrinner announced a 3.45 per cent rates increase – half the residential inflation rate – despite rising construction costs on several major projects.
“Brisbane residents deserve some answers,” Cassidy said.
“Ratepayers also deserve to know why they will have basic services cut in their suburbs.”
However, Council’s finance committee chair Cr Fiona Cunningham said the council was making “sensible savings” to put downward pressure on rates.
“The destructive Greens/Labor coalition of chaos has opposed this plan, meaning their only option would be to hit every Brisbane household with higher rates, right in the middle of a cost of living crisis.”