Airservices to cut 50 IT jobs

Airservices Australia is planning to cut as many as 50 jobs from its IT department as part of a sweeping cost reduction program that will see a total of 900 roles go from the organisation. 

As first reported by the ABC yesterday, workers unions are seeking an immediate halt to the so-called Accelerate [pdf] program.

The program is Airservices' response to a forecast first-ever full-year financial loss, expected to come in at $13.6 million.

Its plan is to eliminate $100 million in costs through a combination of job cuts, a new operating model, and overhauling its technology systems and infrastructure.

In July it offered 600 voluntary redundancies to corporate and back office staff.

The 900 roles targeted under the new reduction scheme will only affect back office and technical staff, according to the ABC.

The Community and Public Sector Union said around 50 jobs would be let go from within Airservices' 315-strong IT division.

Airservices has been contacted for detail on the specific roles that will be targeted, as well as when it expects to enact the cuts.

The Accelerate program has so far seen the organisation's operating model overhauled, resulting in the hire of a chief information officer two years after it scrapped the role.

Airservices has also spent the first half of this year identifying technology areas for investment that would 'enhance service delivery' and 'mobilise strategic partners and vendors'.

Its current focus for the technology aspect of the Accelerate program is to 'build and deliver foundation technology capabilities, embed governance, and update standard operating procedures'.

The program is scheduled to be complete by June 30 next year.