More Job Cuts for Stockton Centre Workers

BY MEGHAN RICHARDSON

More job cuts have been announced for almost 500 employees who are currently working at the Stockton, Tomaree and Kanangra disability centres.

The closure of these disability centres was announced in 2015 and initial reports noted that 126 nursing jobs would be terminated as the centres prepare to close down in 2020.

 The number, however, has ballooned to include another 350 positions like doctors, kitchen hands, disability support workers and many more.

There are significant concerns that the job cuts will have a substantial effect on the 300 residents within the Stockton, Tomaree and Kanangra disability centres.

These 300 residents are being moved to 88 separate group homes next year and there are worries the job cuts will affect the move.

The NSW Labor government is appealing to the Berejiklian government to reconsider the huge cuts.

Shadow Minister for the Hunter and Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington says these staff cuts will cause unnecessary upset.

"The closure of these disability centres has already caused a lot of stress for residents, families and staff." says Miss Washington.

Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp has also condemned the job cuts.

"I hoped Minister Ward would bring a fresh approach to disability issues, but instead he is delivering the same old Liberal agenda of cutting jobs and services," Mr Crakanthorp says.

This new job cut announcement is inconsistent with what the Liberal Party promised in March 2014 when the Minister for Disability Service, John Ajaka, told parliament:

“To address concerns held by some staff, I have met with representatives from the Stockland branches of the NSW Nurses Association and Public Service Association and I reiterate that this Government will provide continuing employment for all those who want it.”

These extra job cuts have angered staff and union members who are now unsure of their future.

The nurses’ unions, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association and the Public Service association, will be holding meetings shortly to measure the feelings and gauge the upset staff are feeling.

They say they are currently considering their options but feel the future is ‘bleak’.  

The job cuts are rumoured to be caused by financial pressure of the NDIS, which initially promised more employment for disability workers when it was first introduced.

Image: ABC

Uni ranking at risk: union

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

The NTEU are warning UoN's world ranking is at risk.

The University of Newcastle is at risk of falling down the world rankings after it announced 30 jobs would be cut from non-academic staff over the next two years.

That is the view from the National Tertiary Education Union, who claim the job losses will cause extra stress on academic staff.

NTEU Newcastle branch president Associate Professor Tom Griffiths said it could also hinder academics' ability to teach students.

"[Academics] are supported by a professional staff who do an outstanding job, but cutting those positions further impacts further on their capacity to do that," Mr Griffiths said.

Tom Griffiths [Picture: UoN].

"Ultimately, that can impact on academics and their work and teaching."

The job losses will come from departments like human resources and finance, while other departments that interact more directly with students are undergoing a review.

In an email sent out to staff, vice-chancellor Caroline McMillen said the cuts were coming amid "global, technological, professional and social change".

However, Mr Griffiths says the job cuts are a bit ironic giving a recent advertising campaign for the University of Newcastle.

"Things are always changing ... but that doesn't mean you have to proceed with a cut of 30 jobs to save $3 million," he said.

"It's rather unfortunate that that happens at the same time that a million dollars is spent on a rebranding campaign - NEW."

"There's nothing new about these sorts of job cuts."

Fairfax Media reported last November that the NTEU were predicting up to 170 jobs would be cut from the University of Newcastle.

While these cuts are lower than expected, Mr Griffiths said it is "just phase one".

"There's going to be subsequent phases, which will involve further job losses over the next couple of years," he said.

"Rather than do it all at once, they're going to phase it in over a period of time."

Newcastle Herald workers strike after Fairfax announce job cuts

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Staff from the Newcastle Herald will head back to work this morning after striking in solidarity with their Fairfax colleagues yesterday.

On what was UNESCO World Press Freedom day, media giant Fairfax announced they would be cutting 125 jobs from newsrooms at the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review in a bid to save $30 million dollars.

Staff at those mastheads have walked off the job for a week, disgusted at the company's decision to axe 25 per cent of its journalists.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance CEO Paul Murphy said: "The editorial staff are really angry. They think the company has made a terrible decision that is not in the best interest of the company, its audience or its staff."