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20/04/2009
Translink Job Cuts Confirmed
About 75 jobs will be cut from Northern Ireland's bus and rail services next year, it has emerged.
The NI Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy has confirmed the details in an answer to an Assembly question - but also insisted there would be no compulsory layoffs.
He said the losses would be across the Ulsterbus, Metro and Translink services.
About 50 jobs will be shed from bus services, representing 1.5% of the current workforce, he said.
Northern Ireland Railways could face 25 job losses, he added.
Mr Murphy pointed out that he had had discussions with the bus companies and numbers would be reduced through natural wastage rather than through compulsory redundancy.
Mr Murphy said Translink had informed him that they were working at identifying ways of reducing staff numbers, including seeking voluntary redundancies.
In a statement on 20 March, Translink Chief Executive Catherine Mason said the company was facing financial pressures following a drop in funding over several years.
The details were relayed to MLAs in response to a question from Pat Ramsey, the SDLP politician.
Mr Murphy also said that there would be "minor revisions" to six bus services in Londonderry.
"There will be some frequency reductions on evenings and Saturday mornings. Any rural service alterations will be made to very low use routes and geographical coverage will be maintained," he said.
However, Mr Murphy said there were no plans to change rail services or timetables but, as part of general efficiency programmes, there could be some curtailment of station opening hours across Northern Ireland.
Just last month trade unions met with Conor Murphy later to discuss re-structuring within Translink.
Even then, the company was insisting that it didn't expect imminent restructuring to lead to job losses.
Chief Executive Catherine Mason told the unions there is "no expectation of compulsory redundancies within any of the Translink companies".
Translink has, however, to make up a shortfall of at least £11.5 million.
See: Job Loss Fears Remain Over Translink 'Cuts'
(BMcC/JM)
The NI Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy has confirmed the details in an answer to an Assembly question - but also insisted there would be no compulsory layoffs.
He said the losses would be across the Ulsterbus, Metro and Translink services.
About 50 jobs will be shed from bus services, representing 1.5% of the current workforce, he said.
Northern Ireland Railways could face 25 job losses, he added.
Mr Murphy pointed out that he had had discussions with the bus companies and numbers would be reduced through natural wastage rather than through compulsory redundancy.
Mr Murphy said Translink had informed him that they were working at identifying ways of reducing staff numbers, including seeking voluntary redundancies.
In a statement on 20 March, Translink Chief Executive Catherine Mason said the company was facing financial pressures following a drop in funding over several years.
The details were relayed to MLAs in response to a question from Pat Ramsey, the SDLP politician.
Mr Murphy also said that there would be "minor revisions" to six bus services in Londonderry.
"There will be some frequency reductions on evenings and Saturday mornings. Any rural service alterations will be made to very low use routes and geographical coverage will be maintained," he said.
However, Mr Murphy said there were no plans to change rail services or timetables but, as part of general efficiency programmes, there could be some curtailment of station opening hours across Northern Ireland.
Just last month trade unions met with Conor Murphy later to discuss re-structuring within Translink.
Even then, the company was insisting that it didn't expect imminent restructuring to lead to job losses.
Chief Executive Catherine Mason told the unions there is "no expectation of compulsory redundancies within any of the Translink companies".
Translink has, however, to make up a shortfall of at least £11.5 million.
See: Job Loss Fears Remain Over Translink 'Cuts'
(BMcC/JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
