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
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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here