SA transport to be slashed

SA transport to be slashed

By Liam Mitchell

ADELAIDE — The South Australian State Government and the State Transport Authority (STA) have proposed a slashing of the government's expenditure on public transport by about 15%, or about $24 million.

The STA has hinted that much of the cuts will come from attacking work practices in the industry, such as employing drivers and clerks on a part-time basis and "certain initiatives" in workers' compensation and sick leave payments.

The Australian Railways Union and the Australian Tramways and Motor Omnibus Employees Association have both said that they would not accept any further cuts to the public transport system.

ARU state secretary John Crossing said that all the "fat" had already been cut from the system and that "quite obviously [financial cuts] are going to come directly out of the delivery of services."

From GLW issue 56