RMT will be calling on the government to meet the following key demands:

an industry wide moratorium on cuts in jobs and services, a freeze in dividends with all profits instead invested to protect services and jobs and the development of an industry wide strategy to ensure that our railways can be managed in a way which mitigates against rather than exacerbates the effects of the economic downturn.

RMT is also warning that the latest negative forecasts for RPI could see the train operating companies looking for even heavier cuts in jobs and services, along with massive increases in unregulated fares, as regulated fares are pushed down.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today;

“While the train operators are jacking up fares by as much as 11 per cent, thousands of rail worker jobs are on the line and up to a third of this year’s essential renewals programme is being deferred. The companies are protecting their profits while those who run the services and who keep the tracks safe face the prospect of being dumped on the dole queue.

“On Friday, RMT members working for Stagecoach subsidiary East Midland Trains will be the latest group of rail workers to take industrial action other 200 threatened job losses.

“It is critical for the future of the rail industry that the government intervene now to stop the jobs massacre and to call to account the private companies who have bled billions in profits and subsidies out of the British taxpayer,” Bob Crow said.