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MORE than 500 Queensland Rail workers were today offered voluntary redundancy packages.
The ASX-listed railway operator is holding talks with employees and unions, inviting expressions of interest as part of broader restructuring of QR National (QRN) to reduce costs and improve efficiency and customer service.
CEO Lance Hockridge (pictured) promises there will be no forced employee redundancies or relocations as a result of the talks.
“Our cost base is too high when compared to competitors and rail industry peers,” he says.
“While QRN continues to grow, we need to better serve customers and improve our operating and financial performance if we are to safeguard an ongoing strong future for our company, our employees and shareholders.”
The company is confident it will exceed its voluntary redundancy target of 500 based on demand during a smaller round of retrenchments earlier this year.
QRN will focus on reducing management and supervisory levels, rationalising back-office support functions and non-core business activities – and consolidating commercial functions.
Consultations will end on June 22 with proposed reforms to be implemented in mid-August.
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