Qld: Unions vow to continue fight against public asset sell-off

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2009
Qld: Unions vow to continue fight against public asset sell-off

BRISBANE, Dec 10 AAP - The Queensland Council of Unions has vowed to continue its fight
against privatisation of public assets after it was announced Queensland Rail (QR) workshops
had also been added to the list.

Unions maintain the government's original reason for the privatisation proposal - which
was to plug a deficit hole created by the global financial crisis (GFC) - no longer stacks
up.

A spokeswoman for the unions expressed concern that the government had gone much further
than originally stated with the addition of QR workshops added to the list of assets to
be sold.

"The job security of workers in these workshops is a major concern," she said.

The government on Tuesday announced QR would be split into two entities, with the coal
and freight business and its above-rail infrastructure to be floated under the name QR
National.

Passenger rail services would remain part of the government-owned corporation called
QR, and a 99-year lease over the coal rail network would be included in the QR National
deal.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) said its members were not consulted about Tuesday's
move and were angry that railway workshops such as those at Redbank, near Ipswich west
of Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville would be included in the sale.

About 1,300 workers at the workshops went on strike until 7am (AEST) on Thursday and
have threatened further action.

However Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the striking QR workers would be better off in the long run.

The workshops would give QR its "expertise and grunt" into the future, Mr Fraser said,
and he didn't believe there would be job losses after a two-year job guarantee expired.

"I think in five, 10 years to come, you will see more people being employed by QR,
not less," he said.

But RTBU secretary Owen Doogan told AAP workers were right to worry about job security
that relied on "the vagaries of the stock market".

AAP djb/dep

KEYWORD: RAIL QLD

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