RMT calls for immediate halt to rail maintenance job cuts as regulator raises fears over safety
RMT: March 3 2010
RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate halt to plans to axe up to 1500 safety-critical rail maintenance jobs as the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) issued a damning report highlighting four major areas of concern over the plans and calling for a suspension of their implementation.
ORR have focussed on:
* Failure to carry out practical tests on the cuts plans
* Specific concerns on the continued problems on the West Coast Mainline where the bulk of the job cuts are targeted
* Reductions in safety-critical working hours
* Cutting back on safety lookouts and safety briefings.
ORR also highlight “inadequate employee engagement” and warn that they will have “no hesitation in taking immediate action if safety to passengers and employees is put at risk.”
RMT is currently balloting staff for strike action over the job cuts plans.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“Coming from the ORR this is nothing short of condemnation of Network Rail’s dangerous cost-cutting plans. If even the ORR says the plans are untested, being implemented in haste and will put pressure on managers to cut back on safety-critical lookouts and briefings, it is clear that they must be stopped and that is why we are demanding an immediate halt.
“RMT has said from the start that Network Rail’s plans, which include the sacking of 1,500 front-line maintenance workers, can only undermine rail safety with lethal consequences, and this news completely justifies the union’s decision to ballot members for strike action to defend rail safety and their jobs.”
ends