CSIRO to axe a quarter of its workforce
The following article appeared in the Canberra Times over the weekend. The staff facing job cuts have our utmost empathy as many of us ‘victims’ have been subjected to the CSIRO’s dehumanising “spill and fill” redundancy procedures, many after reporting problems or lodging complaints within the organisation!
It is probably too much to hope that those engaging in misconduct or serious misconduct will be the first to be cut.
One correction that needs to be made to article below is that senior executive positions are safe. None of the current group or senior executives are being “liquidated”, other than those who have already chosen to leave the organisation.
Despite the spin which CSIRO will inevitably place the loss of executive positions, not refilling vacant positions (i.e. senior executive positions) is vastly different to sacking other staff.
We wonder how many jobs might have been saved but for the CSIRO’s exorbitant PR exercise in its sham investigation exercise which has become so diluted that it is unlikely to result in a single employee facing misconduct charges…
CSIRO support staff next to face 1600 job cuts
- Date: March 15, 2014
Noel Towell, Bridie Smith, Nicky Phillips
The organisation sacked its legal team in Melbourne this week, losing lawyers who have protected the organisation’s scientific patents for decades. The axe is expected to fall again among 1600 scientific support staff.
Management confirmed more cuts on Friday, but said it could not provide numbers.
In more bad news for government science jobs, private suppliers are already trying to poach specialists from the Defence Materiel Organisation in Canberra amid widespread expectations that much of procurement group will be privatised – with the loss of up to 3000 jobs.
Defence Minister David Johnston fuelled speculation on Friday that the government would boost private sector involvement in defence purchasing after its Commission of Audit reports.
Heads are also expected to roll among the CSIRO’s executive ranks. with the chiefs of 22 divisions and flagships vying for just nine jobs.
Victims of Bullying, Harassment, and Victimisation in the CSIRO 
Don’t get upset. The Group Executive level and EMC (Chiefs and Flagship Directors) are having their own spill and fill in the restructuring.
5 Group Executive jobs will be lost. The poor existing GEs will have to compete (only between themselves) for 4 new Sector jobs and one National Facilities leader job. All at the same pay level.
At EMC the 22 (oops, 21 now that one has been promoted) will be competing (only between themselves) for only 20 level 9 jobs in the new structure. Someone (1) will have to retire after they get the golden handshake.
Job losses only gets serious at the next level. All of those research program leaders and theme leaders. 3 in every 5 will not have a job after the restructure. As for support staff, that could be a lot of pain too.
Those at the top have looked after themselves rather well.
Sad to see it turn out this way
March 23, 2014