The PSA was in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on Friday 19 September 2025, continuing conciliation on the TfNSW proposal to meet a “savings target” by cutting 950 jobs. The PSA and other unions are seeking to influence the decision making in how the stated $414 million in labour related savings (of which TfNSW declare $279 million will be saved through job cuts) is actually achieved.

PSA puts forward alternative savings plans from members

The PSA has put forward a number of alternative plans directly from members, that could drastically reduce the need for mass job cuts, including:

• A reduction of the amount spent on consultant and contractors, separate from labour hire.

• A reduction in the number of Transport Senior Service Executives (TSSEs), and in particular the number of TSSEs that have no direct reports, or that report to each other.

• Gaining efficiencies from procurement practices

• Reviewing office leasing expenses

TfNSW confirms high number of Professional Service Contractors (PSCs)

While TfNSW has already made a commitment to reduce the number of labour hire employees (see PSA bulletin HERE), before cutting any direct permanent employees, they confirmed there were also additional Professional Service Contractors (PSCs) in the TfNSW establishment. While TfNSW claim that PSCs provide specialist services and skill sets and are generally used in a program/project/ad hoc capacity, there will be a further meeting this week to review these contractors and identify whether further savings can be made from this group.

High number of TSSEs reporting to each other

It was revealed that there are a number of “intraband” Transport Senior Service Executives (TSSEs) – which includes directors reporting to each other. Bizarrely this includes TSSEs that have zero direct reports. The PSA cannot accept that TfNSW should continue to allow senior executives that have nobody reporting to them to continue receiving their extremely generous pay packets of between $230,000 and $648,220 a year.If TfNSW want to make savings from their workforce, this is the first place to start. This matter will continue to be a point of discussion this week, as the PSA have a number of specific examples of where duplicated Executive roles could be deleted to stop the need for a Transport Senior Service Manager (TSSM) or Award role from being cut.

Procurement expenses not part of $414 million savings target

While there are savings that can be made, and should continue to be made, from procurement practices, it was confirmed in the IRC that savings from this area are not the subject of the current dispute, as they are not part of the $414 million TfNSW are seeking to save from Labour related practices.  While procurement practices and office leasing expenses should continue to be a point of discussion, the PSA will take the guidance from the IRC in this regard, and focus on the alternative plan to gain savings from reducing Labour Hire, PSCs and TSSE roles.

Branch detailed design continuing, includes reductions in labour hire won through dispute

In the consultation meetings held so far, information on the number of labour hire positions has been included (for those branches that have such positions), and for any roles that will continue they are being graded and available for affected employees that are “unplaced”. This is having a twofold affect – when these positions are removed they are contributing to the savings target (and saving the need to cut a direct permanent employee), and when they plan to continue, they will be available for affected employees to be placed in to.

The PSA is back in the IRC on Thursday 25 September to continue conciliation of the dispute.

Contacts

TfNSW @ PSA mailbox (for general savings plans and feedback on the operating model) –

Member Support Centre (for specific individual industrial matters you need assistance with)–

Your PSA Delegates

Safety, Policy, Environment and Regulation

Rachael Knight

Nathan Sweeney

Planning, Integration and Passenger

Angela Carroll

Hayley Dellaca

Leisa Sedger

Varada Shinde

Coordinator General

Michael Rohrlach

People, Communication and Workplaces

Joanne Kent

Arshdeep Kohli

Dane Richards

Gloria Nallas

Finance, Technology and Commercial

Gary Sladden

Point to Point (Combined Electorate)

Mick Lister

PSA Central Councilor

Lachlan Mercer