Premier Statement: QR launches state wide recruitment drive

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
30/05/2010

QR launches state wide recruitment drive

Premier Anna Bligh today announced that QR is embarking on one of its biggest recruitment drives of the year and is searching for more than 120 new apprentices.

"Job security for QR workers is all about growth in the coal industry and its customers," Ms Bligh said.

"So confident is QR about continued growth that it is opening up opportunities right across the state in various trades.

"They are looking for apprentice electricians, mechanical fitters, telecommunication technicians, vehicle builders, carpenters, plumbers, painters, sign writers and there's even a cookery apprenticeship.

"Positions are available in Brisbane, Bowen, Emerald, Gladstone, Jilalan(near Sarina), Mackay, Maryborough, Moranbah, Pring (near Bowen), Redbank, Rockhampton, Stuart, Toowoomba and Yukan (near Sarina).

"The new apprenticeships are being offered both in the passenger service of the new Government Owned Corporation Queensland Rail and the new coal and freight company QRNational," the Premier said.

Ms Bligh said there was an apprenticeship to suit anyone looking for a new and exciting career with a strong, growing organisation.

"QR are scouring the state for the best candidates to support the business into the future, by providing solid training and experience in a range of fields," Ms Bligh said.

"These apprenticeships are not just a job, but an opportunity to start a new career with an organisation that has a proud history and an exciting future.

"QR is a freight and passenger business positioned for growth with major infrastructure projects happening right across the state, and to deliver that growth and quality services for its customers QR is planning now for the future.

"This recruitment campaign will help find the right people who will be given the best training and experience to form the building blocks for the new QR.

"The best asset QR has is its people, and right QR is looking for 120 apprentices to join the team to deliver the growth for a growing Queensland.

"Last year QR employed 96 new apprentices, so the 20 percent increase in demand for apprentices is evidence of QR's strong commitment to growth and delivering for its customers.

"As a truly national company, QR is committed to hiring and training the next generation of tradespeople, those who will allow the business to continue to grow, and operate safely and efficiently in the coming years."

Advertisements are appearing in newspapers in every region in Queensland as QR begins the process of recruiting more than 120 apprentices in all parts QR.

The successful applicants will join QR's 16,000 employees who work to deliver 678,000 tonnes of freight, 1,000 train services carrying more than 178,000 passengers every day.

This recruitment campaign is in addition to the 146 new positions which are currently available within QR. More than 1500 people have joined the organisation since July last year, following several major recruitment drives to deliver the continued growth of the organisation.

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[#Metro]

Could this be the first indication that more drivers and trains will be put on the Brisbane commuter train network?

[mufreight]

These are obviously maintenence and support staff positions not train crew and definately not train crew for the citytrain operations which would have to be funded through Translink.

[ButFli]

Why would train crew be funded by Translink? Translink pay QR to provide a service. How QR choose to spend that money in delivering the service is up to them, I would have thought.

[mufreight]

Yes Translink funds the operation of services and thus since crew are required to operate these services QR Passenger can only employ the minimum numbers of trail crew that are required to operate the services funded by Translink.
Unfortunately it takes time and money to select and employ suitable staff to operate trains then they have to be trained and with Translink and this government continuing to play scrouge while increasing the size of their own non-productive bureaucracies it inhibits operators such as QR Passenger from recuting and trainging staff and then in turn provides Translink with the self created excuse of not providing additional services because the operator does not have the trained and qualified staff to operate them.
Disband Translink as it presently exists and redeploy the seat polishers into jobs such as bus drivers and train crew where they would then have to face commuters who are less than impressed with their efforts as part of Translink to this time.

[Derwan]

As mufreight clarified, Translink wouldn't directly fund crews.  I assume that the costs of running additional services (including maintenance, train crews and anything else) would be put to Translink by QR.  If Translink doesn't boost funding by the given amount, the services would not happen.  (This is probably over-simplified.)

[ButFli]

Yes Translink funds the operation of services and thus since crew are required to operate these services QR Passenger can only employ the minimum numbers of trail crew that are required to operate the services funded by Translink.
Unfortunately it takes time and money to select and employ suitable staff to operate trains then they have to be trained and with Translink and this government continuing to play scrouge while increasing the size of their own non-productive bureaucracies it inhibits operators such as QR Passenger from recuting and trainging staff and then in turn provides Translink with the self created excuse of not providing additional services because the operator does not have the trained and qualified staff to operate them.
Disband Translink as it presently exists and redeploy the seat polishers into jobs such as bus drivers and train crew where they would then have to face commuters who are less than impressed with their efforts as part of Translink to this time.

So in other words I caught you making a deliberately misleading post and you are now trying to cover it up by posting gobbledegook.

[ozbob]

I don't find it misleading at all.  It explains the situation.  TransLink funds the services through the service agreements.  Clearly there needs to be a long term plan in anticipating service improvements and allowing the operator to achieve the necessary staff and rolling stock levels.  I think there has been friction because in the past the operator determined when and where, but now they need to get the approval of TransLink for any changes.  TransLink itself is under funding restraints as well. Here in lies the tension.

General message to all, please play the ball.  A few posts have had to be removed.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Live and let live.