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Unions fear thousands of job losses at Network Rail
Dick Murray, Transport Editor17.04.09
UNIONS fear Network Rail is drawing up plans for redundancies which could run into thousands.
They have been summoned to a meeting next week with Network Rail about a reorganisation plan.
Senior rail industry sources said they believe the infrastructure firm will outline moves which would result in hundreds or even thousands of job losses among the firm's 35,000 staff.
Network Rail is moving 3,500 of its staff to a new multi-million-pound headquarters at Milton Keynes.
Staff at its King's Cross base are among those being moved as well as workers in Manchester and York.
Senior industry sources told the Standard: “NR will only transfer 3,500 staff to Milton Keynes. Many working at various sites around the UK won't want to move and that will suit NR fine. Staff have been told at meetings there will be many job losses.”
Job losses will spark fears over the safety of the national network used by more than three million passengers a day.
A Network Rail spokesman denied there would be mass redundancies. He said: “Employees are being well briefed with relocation packages on offer as
well as retraining and redeployment opportunities.”
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said: “We are warning Iain Coucher [NR chief executive] not to use the move as an excuse to sack loyal staff. We want to know exactly what is going on and who is affected.”
