A new swipe-on ticketing system for Sydney's trains, buses and ferries promises to cut the queues, but the transport minister admits it could cut dozens of jobs, too.
Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) Secretary Alex Claassens says rail workers were told of plans to slash frontline and customer service support jobs on Monday, the same day the NSW auditor-general reported a seven per cent rise in passenger complaints.
He says Sydney Trains predicts 62 sales staff at various stations will lose their jobs as the Opal ticketing system is rolled out.
Also, 69 staff from a division that handles station facilities, passenger information and feedback will be asked to reapply for a possible 49 jobs.
"The government has known about the Opal Card system for months yet these workers are finding out just weeks before Christmas that they may soon be jobless," Mr Claassens said on Tuesday.
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the changes were not set in stone but agreed the Opal roll-out could mean job cuts.
"These are proposals, and yesterday was the start of consultation with staff and unions," she told AAP in a statement on Tuesday.
"New technology will mean customers won't have to ever queue to buy a ticket again, so naturally there could be some reduction in the need for staff at some ticket windows down the track.
"We have always said our reforms will see more staff out on stations helping passengers, dealing with incidents and taking responsibility for their stations and the services being provided."
A Sydney Trains spokeswoman told AAP ticket window sales had dropped by an average of more than 20 per cent at the 12 eastern suburbs, city and north shore stations where the Opal card was already accepted.
The Opal system is expected to be in place across 40 ferry wharves, more than 300 railway stations and more than 5000 buses and light rail stops by 2015.
NSW Greens transport spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said the government was using the ticketing system as an opportunity to sack staff.
"The government should be redeploying staff from ticketing windows to frontline customer service and safety, not using it as an opportunity to reduce public services," Dr Faruqi said.
