UnionNET

Unions NSW has called on the O’Farrell Government to convene an urgent jobs roundtable tasked with creating an employment growth plan for the State, amid deep concerns about rising jobless numbers.

The most recent ABS figures showed a loss of 14,544 jobs, with the State’s unemployment rate increasing to 5.1 per cent

Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon, has written to the Premier requesting the roundtable be made up of unions, employer, government and academic representatives.

“Our affiliates are reporting serious job losses across manufacturing, construction and finance on a weekly basis,” Mr Lennon said.

"In the last fortnight alone, we have seen Patrick cut 270 jobs at Port Botany and Caltex axe 800 positions at Kurnell.

"The Premier needs to urgently convene a jobs roundtable involving government, industry, unions and academics.

“It’s time to put partisan bickering to one said and make employment growth our number one priority in this state.

“We would love an opportunity to put forward our ideas around kick starting infrastructure development and a State Government local purchasing plan.

“If NSW is going to emerge from the slow lane of the two-speed economy we need everyone to make a contribution.”