The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) warns that stripping staff from stations across Queensland is reckless and puts the community at risk
The RTBU Queensland Branch is calling on the state government to reverse cuts set to come into effect in May which leaves passengers without any on-the-ground assistance after 1pm on weekdays and no staff presence at all on weekends.
Branch Secretary Peter Allen said the cuts will put some of the community’s most vulnerable members at risk.
“This is a devastating blow to our sector but also the community as a whole. Unstaffed stations means no help for people with disabilities, no protection for students and no safety net for anyone who needs assistance,” Allen said.
“People who rely on staff for ramp access and navigation will effectively be locked out of the network on afternoons and weekends, while students and young people travelling after school will have no staff to turn to if something goes wrong.
“Commuters are essentially being abandoned and left with no support. If these cuts go ahead and someone is hurt or stranded, they will know that the Queensland Government allowed it to happen.
“Reducing service by removing staff is a disregard of the core obligation of public transport, which is to serve the entire community, not just peak-hour commuters. This decision isolates people with disabilities, elderly passengers and those with low digital literacy who rely on staff to navigate the network.”
The RTBU Queensland branch is launching its Stop The Cuts: Protect Our Stations campaign and is urging the state government to re-think the decision.
As part of the campaign, the RTBU has launched a petition and is urging all Queenslanders to sign on.
“How can parents willingly send their children on public transport knowing there’s no one there to help if something goes wrong?” Allen said.
“The government must immediately reverse the proposed cuts and implement minimum station staffing to secure jobs and make sure the community feels safe while travelling.”
Contact details:
Lauren 0422 581 506
