Forum Brief: Network Rail job cuts

Up to 2000 jobs could go following Network Rail's revelation that it faces a £54 billion bill for providing services over the next ten years.

Network Rail (NR), the public interest company set up to replace the privatised Railtrack, estimates that only that level of investment will get train services back on track.

Forum Response: Transport and Salaried Staffs' Association

Richard Rosser, general secretary of TSSA, said: "This announcement is a major threat for our members and for the travelling public.

"NR needs to think through the consequences of these jobs cuts. We always knew that Railtrack was inefficient, but not so inefficient that it employed 2000 people too many. How can Network Rail hope to get rail back on track having axed so many workers?

"NR was created as a not-for-profit organisation so every pound went into building a better railway. Last week we hear of loyalty bonuses for directors and now thousands of jobs will go - this simply does not add up.

"One the one hand, NR claims record sums of cash are being invested in the railway and is taking maintenance contracts in-house to get a tighter grip on costs. On the other, it says it needs less people to carry this increased workload.

"Railtrack started a culture of employing agency staff and consultants, rather than investing in their workforce. NR needs to turn this round and give priority to the interests of its loyal and committed permanent staff.

"If NR requires staff savings, these must be from reducing the dependency on agency and contract staff and not at the expense of permanent staff.

"We have already made it clear to NR that they should come clean and specify exactly what jobs they think should go and what the implications are for train punctuality and reliability."