ServiceFirst staff walk off the job to protest offshoring of hundreds of jobs walk out (PDF version)

MEDIA RELEASE

ServiceFirst employees who perform critical human resources, IT, finance and payroll functions for NSW Government agencies will walk off the job in Parramatta and Haymarket on Thursday 26 March at 12.30pm.

The staff who are members of the Public Service Association of NSW (PSA) are angry at the Baird Government’s plan to privatise and offshore their award-winning service and jobs to multinational corporations.

Up to 240 of the 300 positions at ServiceFirst are likely to be sent overseas, raising concerns about the privacy and security of sensitive Government data.

“If returned on Saturday, this Government will forge ahead with its ideological agenda of privatising more and more public services,” said PSA Assistant General Secretary, Steve Turner.

“These workers have turned ServiceFirst into an award-winning business, yet the Government is still planning to offshore their jobs.”

“Walking off the job is a big step for any public sector worker but it shows just how angry and disillusioned these workers are with their treatment by the Government and the concern they have for the future of the services they provide.”

Parramatta employees will be joined on the day by other public sector workers in the area who oppose the privatisation and offshoring of NSW Government jobs and services.

“Workers know that what is happening in ServiceFirst is another chapter of what this Government has in store for the rest of the NSW public sector if it is re-elected,” said Steve Turner.

“It’s not just the privatisation of electricity NSW should be concerned about. With Baird, there is no limit to what the Government is prepared to sell or give away.”

The PSA estimates that up to 30,000 people within the NSW public sector perform jobs similar to those carried out by ServiceFirst – all of whom could be next in line for outsourcing.

Thursday 26 March, 2015, 12.30pm

• Macquarie Tower, 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta

• McKell Building, 2-24 Rawson Place, Sydney