UnionNET

Unions NSW is alarmed at signs the State Government is encouraging senior public service executives to compete over who can cut the most jobs - a dynamic likely to create social and financial chaos for the State over the longer term.

Despite announcing 15,000 job cuts, a confidential memo between NSW Treasury officials reveals "there is no cap on redundancies."

Unions NSW Assistant Secretary, Chris Christodoulou said the Government's agenda was disturbing.

"By creating an open ended cycle of public sector cuts, this Government is coercing senior public sector executives to compete over who can cut the hardest and deepest," Mr Christodoulou said.

"The long term ramifications are grave. The Government will end up with serious social and service delivery problems across the State.

"This will cost NSW dearly. Our State is growing and needs more people to keep us safe, healthy and moving, not fewer. 

"The Government will find it has to employ thousands of new public sector workers to make up for all the employees it sacks now – a messy and costly process.

"Whenever this Government perceives a problem, its first response is to make working people pay.

"Barry O'Farrell needs to end the war on his own workforce and invest more in public services - as he promised to do before the State election last year."