MPs call on Network Rail bosses to stop cuts over safety

A DELEGATION of MPs has met Transport Secretary Lord Adonis over fears about public safety if Network Rail cuts a fifth of its workforce. The Group was given an assurance there would be no compulsory redundancies

By Mike Brooke

A DELEGATION of MPs has met Transport Secretary Lord Adonis over fears about public safety if Network Rail cuts a fifth of its workforce.

The Group was told that the Secretary of State had received an assurance there would be no compulsory redundancies.

But the assurance has not been provided directly to the biggest rail union, the RMT.

The union's 'Parliamentary Convenor' MP John McDonnell said: "We met Lord Adonis over concerns about Network Rail's outrageous proposals to cut nearly one-in-five of the jobs that guarantee track safety.

"He had been assured there would be no compulsory redundancies, yet there are still alarming safety concerns."

So the union is stepping up its Parliamentary campaign to press Network Rail to reverse the planned cuts.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "We'll continue campaigning for assurances that staffing levels will be in place for a safe and efficient maintenance service on the railways."

It has told the Secretary of State it plans to submit evidence to him on the risks to safety for both passengers and workers.