[Greens-Media] Watkins should take on Costa not rail workers

[Lee Rhiannon]

28 April 2008Media Release  Watkins should take on Costa not rail
workers
 
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Transport Minister John Watkins to
put safety and passenger services first and instruct CityRail to retain
station staffing levels. 
 
*With rail patronage on the increase Minister Watkins needs to publicly
and unequivocally commit to retaining 400 station jobs that CityRail
wants to axe,* Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
*Minister Watkins* failure to stand up for CityRail workers strongly
suggests that these days he takes more notice of Treasurer Michael Costa
than the public transport needs of NSW. 
 
*With more people using public transport and high petrol prices set to
further boost patronage CityRail needs more staff - not cuts driven by
Treasurer Costa.
 
*Minister Watkins is playing with words when he states that no front
line services will be lost. Rail workers who provide services to the
public can only do so because they have the backup of other staff.
 
*With the present staffing levels CityRail cannot deliver the required
level of customer service with many trains running late and long queues
for tickets. Rail services cannot be improved if the workforce is
reduced.
 
*If the Minister does not retain these 400 jobs commuters are in for
even longer delays.
 
*The safety of passengers and CityRail staff will be at risk if these
rail jobs are lost. 
 
*Minister Watkins should bypass the CityRail staff slashing approach
and sit down with the Rail Tram and Bus Union to negotiate where staff
should be allocated. 
 
*The Minister*s priority should be to employ staff for the unfilled
CityRail jobs not create more shortages,* Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
  
For more information:       Lee Rhiannon 92303551, 0427 861 568