New Zealand: Job cuts planned for Auckland rail services
By
Sam Price
28 July 2017
Up to 300 Auckland rail workers face losing their jobs in a restructure of train services in New Zealand’s largest city. They include at least 160 on-board train managers, who could be axed in favour of 18 officers who will monitor automated electronic ticket gates, the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) told Newstalk ZB on June 29.
Auckland Transport (AT) is still negotiating the plan with the trade union and private contractor Transdev. AT refused to confirm the job cuts but told Newstalk ZB “some services could operate just with a driver.”
The Land Transport Amendment Bill, expected to pass parliament next month with support from Labour and the Greens, will give officers at ticket gates more legal powers, including to issue penalty notices to fare evaders.
Councils throughout the country are enforcing the National Party government’s 2013 “public transport operating model” to increase profits and promote privatisation to slash costs at the expense of workers’ wages, jobs and conditions. This is in line with similar assaults on transport workers internationally. Earlier this month, rail workers across Britain struck against the imposition of Driver Only Operated trains.
In a press statement on June 30 , AT spokesman Brendon Main claimed the proposed changes would “make the trip safer.” The removal of onboard staff will, in fact, make train journeys less safe. The plans are clearly intended to reduce spending and boost profits.
Transdev, a French-based multinational corporation, reported global revenues of €6.7 billion ($NZ10.5 billion) in 2016, largely achieved through attacks on its workforce. Transdev and its parent company Veolia cut 140 bus drivers’ jobs…