Union welcomes Main Roads jobs shift with 60 positions to open in South West

More than 60 Main Roads jobs will be added across the South West as part of a move to bring road maintenance workers in-house, according to the State Government. Across both the South West and Great Southern 100 jobs will be added, including a new Main Roads office in Manjimup to be home to 20 new staff members. Australian Workers Union State secretary Brad Gandy said workers would benefit from the move. “The AWU has been invited and attended every transition and in-housing event including those in the South West and Great Southern with the minister and Main Roads WA,” he said. “Road maintenance workers being in-housed to Main Roads will see a significant improvement in their pay, conditions and job security with many of these workers previously being contracted as casuals to now being full-time with Main Roads.” The jobs come as the State Government continues moving road maintenance staff from the private sector to the publicly-owned Main Roads. The process of transferring staff began in late 2022 and will see a total of 450 new positions filled at the organisation, according to the Government. So far six regions and the metro area have been shifted with only the Kimberley remaining. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the transition was moving along well. “The return of road maintenance back to Main Roads has been a key priority for our Government,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to see the ongoing progress, and to welcome these new employees to Main Roads across our Great Southern and South West regions. “The transition process is going to deliver better outcomes for workers, regional economies, and our road network, meaning more local jobs and road maintenance crews that are better placed to respond to issues when we need them. “I’m also really happy to see the new Manjimup office coming together — establishing this new office will provide a long-term regional employment opportunity for the South West, and a new local interface for Main Roads customers.”