Transport for NSW to cut 950 roles: ‘These decisions are never easy’

In an announcement that shocked staff on Wednesday morning, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has proposed to cut around 950 roles across the NSW department.

Today (23 July), Transport for NSW has announced that it has notified staff of incoming structural changes that are set to impact around 950 roles across the department’s corporate and support functions.

According to the department, the changes are to ensure that “more resources are directed to core transport services in communities across the state”.

The department claimed that the sudden restructure is derived from its new streamlined approach, which has reduced the number of divisions from 10 to seven.

“These decisions are never easy – they affect real people and teams who’ve contributed to vital work. But they are necessary to ensure we have a sustainable structure that provides the best possible value to the people of NSW,” said TfNSW secretary Josh Murray.

“As one of the largest public service agencies in the country, we have a responsibility to ensure we operate efficiently. Every dollar saved from our costs is a dollar for schools, hospitals, police or frontline public transport and roads, so we must build our budgets carefully.”

Thus far, the department has claimed to have removed over 200 senior executive roles in the restructure, which aims to comply with the NSW government’s commitment to reduce senior executives by 15 per cent.

“From 2021 to 2023, Transport for NSW added an average of two new senior executive roles every week, and a 30 per cent increase in senior management and award staff. That level of growth would be unsustainable in any sector,” said Murray.

“A more efficient structure was put in place last financial year to align the size of our workforce with the needs of communities we serve. We have been centralising functions such as procurement, project support, communications and technology.”

The department claimed that the restructure works towards finding efficiencies in back office roles, as areas such as executive support, project support, communications and technology become centralised.

The move comes just after a torrid industrial relations battle between the department and the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU) over an eight-month-long pay dispute. The dispute involved multiple train shutdowns, much to the dismay of commuters, but was ultimately sewn up after a pay deal was struck between the two parties.

On top of that, TfNSW has long been at odds with some of its union-aligned members over the implementation of Chris Minns’ “workplace presence policy”. As previously reported by HR Leader, workers took action outside one of the department’s hubs in protest of the return-to-office mandate, labelling its implementation as a “inefficient and unproductive process”.

TfNSW claimed that the restructure is set to be completed by the end of 2025.

Speaking on the restructure and it’s consequences for staff, Public Service Association (PSA) general secretary Stewart Little hoped that previously introduced policies could lessen the blow for the affected workers.

“The PSA has previously secured with the current NSW Government the "workforce mobility placement policy" which requires TFNSW to actively redeploy affected staff in the government sector to minimise job cuts.

“With the NSW Government advertising more than 25,000 roles per year, the PSA expects this policy to be utilised in its entirety, and will support any affected members throughout this process.

“The PSA is also seeing further information from TfNSW around proposed ‘early exit’ and ‘mobility options’ for some workers.

“The PSA notes the announcement does reference that TfNSW has already delivered a reduction of 200, of a total of 300, Senior Executive Roles, and we are seeking more information on the cost savings already achieved by this process because if savings need to be found, they should be made from these areas first and foremost.”

This story has been updated.