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Rail staff cuts could lead to new disaster, warns union
Dick Murray, Transport Correspondent5 Oct 2009
Cuts in railway maintenance could trigger another crash on the scale of the Paddington disaster, union bosses warned today.
The RMT said “massive” cuts to track and signalling repairs will put thousands of passengers at risk.
The union chose the 10th anniversary of the crash to highlight its fears over the sacking of up to 2,500 staff to save money.
The tragedy was a key factor in the break-up of Railtrack and the handing over of rail infrastructure to Network Rail. Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, said: “We all welcomed the demise of Railtrack but now we see the successor, NR, facing massive pressure to cut budgets.
“The RMT has demanded that risk assessments associated with these cuts be published. The dash for savings increases the risk of another Paddington, Hatfield or Potters Bar.”
An NR spokesman said: “We would never compromise on safety. But with the track in the best condition it ever has been and new techniques and technology maintenance work can be around 10 per cent less.”
Reader views (3)
Rogan, You clearly have limited understanding and knowledge of what it is like to work on a railway!
The one thing I do firmly believe is too many companies are employing the wrong kind of people to do the jobs, with less than adequate training.
As for the RMT, they are there to support the staff which are all too aware of the monster profits that these firms are making, and are only trying to get a fair deal which reflects the profits the company is making on that finacial year for the worker, especially when their superiors' are receiving pay increases that are nearly 10 to 12 times the amount of what they get!
It is easy to point the finger at the front-line staff, but it only shows you have a limited understanding on matters!
- National Rail Worker, London, 15/10/2009 16:26
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Will we have zero accidents, 100% on time performance, if we double the number of UNION workers on the rail? Triple? Why not?? Surely if the place is unsafe with fewer, or lower paid, the rail will be MORE safe with MORE workers, HIGHER wages, right?? No one ever accused union members of being smart, particularly safe, or overly efficient - just overpaid.
- Trunk, US, 06/10/2009 04:45
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Disaster predicted if they...! Yep - the usual all or nothing claims instead of trying to work out solutions. Keep everyone employed in their jobs, regardless of need or relationship to the doom and gloom predictions.
Just once I'd like to hear demands, as a suggested alternate to redundancy, for re-training and re-deployment of employees to meet developing demands while still taking into account lessening need in other posts. I'd have a lot more sympathy in that instance.
The unions seem to just want to keep everything frozen in time - concerned more about members simply HAVING a job, rather than DOING a job that's needed. And for the record, taking isolated examples and pointing out their importance in given circumstances does NOT prove the case for anyone and everyone to stay in post!
- Rogan, Irving, 05/10/2009 18:37
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