Forced job-cuts loom as Tasmanian government prepares to swing axe

Forced job-cuts loom as government prepares to swing axe on Building Tasmania In short: At least 80 Tasmanian public service jobs are on the line as part of a departmental restructure and ongoing government efforts to shrink the state service. At an all-staff meeting on Monday, Building Tasmania workers were told a number of jobs from each area within the department had been identified. Labor says Premier Jeremy Rockliff's decision to put Treasurer Eric Abetz in charge of finding budget savings was "causing chaos and confusion". At least 80 jobs have been identified to be abolished at Building Tasmania as part of its restructure and ongoing government efforts to shrink the state service. The Tasmanian government announced during the May budget that it wanted to cut 250 Building Tasmania (formerly the Department of State Growth) jobs, primarily through voluntary redundancies. On the weekend, the premier confirmed 111 full-time workers had taken redundancies. He reiterated his commitment that none would be forced. But at an all-staff meeting on Monday, public service workers were told a number of jobs from each area had been identified to be abolished. Despite the use of a slide show, which detailed things such as how many workers had taken redundancies so far and the operational efficiencies, the actual number of cuts planned for each area was only communicated verbally. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and multiple sources have told the ABC they understand the number of positions to be abolished in the sector was roughly: - Building Tasmania — 32 - Creative Industries, Sport and Visitor Economy — 23 - Department of Premier and Cabinet — 5 - Workers moving from Building Tasmania — 27 - Corporate Services — 23 The ABC has asked the government to confirm the exact figures. The staff the ABC spoke to left the meeting confused and still unclear about how many jobs would go or how it would work. Staff do not know which jobs are being targeted but it is understood they will find out over the next few days, before the full restructure is revealed on Wednesday afternoon. Staff shown slide show presentation CPSU secretary Thirza White said the meeting was meant to provide certainty but created more confusion. "There was quite significant frustration at that meeting today that despite being promised information and delaying the deadline for that information three times, that information was only provided verbally," she said. "This is a really stressful time. People need to be given the information in a written format so they can go away and consider it. "Now, instead over the next two to three days, people will be tapped on the shoulder and told they are potentially now an identified employee. "It's not the way we should be doing this, and it makes a stressful situation even more stressful." Ms White said it was a significant number of job losses. "We have done some back-of-the-envelope calculations, and at a minimum we're looking at 80 roles being cut and likely north of a hundred roles," she said. "These are huge cuts and agency leadership today did acknowledge that it's up to 10 per cent of the workforce in DPAC and Building Tasmania that will be directly impacted." The slide show, seen by the ABC, addresses some of the many questions the workforce likely has. Under the heading "When will I know if I have a job in the new structure?" there is text saying it is understood that workers are "keen to have certainty" about future positions. "We expect many of you will know by mid-to-late October whether you have a confirmed position in the new organisational structure," the slide show said. It also said just because staff could not see their position in the proposed structure it did not automatically mean their position was being removed. Ms White challenged Premier Jeremy Rockliff to keep his commitment of no forced redundancies. "As recently as the weekend, the premier has publicly said that there will be no forced redundancies and yet the agency today started the process that does allow the agency to make forced redundancies," she said. "Once a role is identified, then, after six months if can be made redundant forcibly. However, it does need the premier's signature. "So time will tell whether the premier's commitments around no forced redundancies are genuine." Detailed proposed structures and change and consultation proposals will be released on Wednesday. Labor on the attack Labor Workplace Relations spokesperson Ella Haddad said the decision to put Treasurer Eric Abetz in charge was "causing chaos and confusion". "Eric Abetz pointedly refused to rule out forced redundancies earlier this month," she said. "The premier tried to yesterday, but today employees at Building Tasmania learned that over 100 jobs could be identified to be abolished in the coming days. "The premier can try to soften the message as much as he likes, but nothing will soften the impact of Eric Abetz's blunt, $1.5 billion fiscal cleaver." Consultation on redundancies will be open until October 9. The government has been contacted for comment.