KiwiRail management is today expected to announce a final
decision on the number of jobs it will cut, at a meeting with
delegates of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) in
Wellington.
The state-owned enterprise earlier indicated it would cut 181
jobs from its infrastructure and engineering division in
order to save $14 million, with the possibility of further
job losses next year.
RMTU South Island organiser John Kerr said he and other union
delegates from throughout New Zealand expected to be told
this morning how many jobs KiwiRail planned to cut.
He said about 75 infrastructure and engineering employees had
indicated voluntary redundancy, but it was possible some
would get "cold feet".
"There's a significant shortfall, given the potential 181
redundancies."
He expected KiwiRail to have revised its number of job cuts
and hoped it would be fewer than 181.
KiwiRail had about 45 infrastructure and engineering workers
in Dunedin. The company planned to cut 43 jobs throughout the
South Island.
Last month, Mr Kerr told the ODT the jobs of 16
Dunedin staff were on the "chopping block".
The staff included track maintenance workers, communications
staff and structure inspectors.
KiwiRail is taking longer than expected to negotiate the sale
of South Dunedin's Hillside Engineering Workshops.
It initially planned to make a sale announcement at the end
of August.
A spokeswoman said the company was still undertaking due
diligence in respect of potential buyers.
Last month, a leaked KiwiRail report suggested Hillside
Workshops would be closed if not sold.
rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
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