UNISON and the TSSA today slammed TfL for wasting millions on consultants while telling staff they have to fill a £2.4billion budget black hole by sacking thousands of staff.
The unions are calling on TfL to stop their spending spree on consultants after figures came to light showing just one department, Congestion Charging and Traffic Enforcement (CC&TE), spent £5.4 million on consultants in just one year**.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:
ÒTfL bosses want staff to cut costs, yet they waste millions on consultants and threaten staff with job cuts.
ÒIf one small department is wasting £5.4million on consultants each year then the total spent by TfL must be colossal. TfL cannot be serious about saving money if it can afford million pound spending sprees on consultants. TfL bosses should be valuing their loyal, permanent staff, not boosting the profits of large multi-national companies._
TSSA General Secretary, Gerry Doherty, said:
“Its the economics of the madhouse to pay consultants millions while loyal and experienced staff are being sacrificed to fill a black hole in the books.
“We want to see all consultants shown the door before we even talk about staffing levels with TfL.”
*TfLÕs Commissioner, Peter Hendy, said in December 2008 that the changes necessary to plug the £2.4billion spending black hole would result in significant reduction in jobs within TfL. Senior sources within the company said the numbers of staff being hit could be as high as between 2-3,000.
**The amount paid to consultants from Deloitte is for the tax year 2008/09
The daily rates paid to consultants from Deloitte ranges from £2761 for a partner, £2438 for a Director, £2119 for a senior manager, £1732 for a manager, £1348 for a senior consultant, £962 for a consultant and £705 for an analyst.
A TfL band 1 permanent employee is paid £22,808 per year, or £87 per year.