Job cuts loom
‘‘We appreciate this is a very challenging time, and uncertainty is not easy.’’
Auckland Transport is preparing to restructure and cut jobs by July as it faces slashed funding in the council’s next budget.
The more than 2000 staff at the council agency have been told the two-week consultation process will begin on April 18.
Outgoing interim chief executive Mark Lambert broke the news in a message on his last day in the role.
‘‘We want to give you as much notice as possible about the consultation period, given the Easter break and the school holidays coming up, so you can be prepared to receive important updates from your leaders, and to give feedback,’’ Lambert told staff.
Auckland Transport has been told to cut $25 million from its running costs in the year starting July 1. A further $7.5m is being tallied up by councillor
Maurice Williamson’s expenditure control and procurement committee.
‘‘We appreciate this is a very challenging time, and uncertainty is not easy,’’ Lambert wrote.
Auckland Transport would not put a figure on how sizeable the job cuts might be when asked by Stuff.
The restructure will be led by Dean Kimpton, who has been
appointed as chief executive for an 18-month term to lead a strategic review. The board’s acting chairperson Wayne Donnelly said Kimpton’s appointment would bring ‘‘strong change leadership to overcome some immediate challenges’’.
All council-controlled organisations (CCOs) face significant funding cuts as the council tries to close a forecast $295m deficit in the budget proposal from
mayor Wayne Brown. Auckland Transport has been the agency most affected by Brown’s election.
Former chairperson Adrienne Young-Cooper heeded the new mayor’s call for all directors to resign, going a day after his election. Two others followed. A $97000 search for a new chief executive collapsed when Brown declined to meet the preferred candidate, who had been
hired from the United Kingdom, prompting the person to withdraw.
Brown has demanded a ‘‘fundamental change of approach’’ from Auckland Transport.
It is grappling with a bus driver shortage, 2000 fewer services each day and a commuter rail network disrupted all year by track foundation replacement.
In his parting message, Lambert told staff their wellbeing was always the top priority.
‘‘Please connect with your leaders and team for support when you need it.’’