Eurostar looks at part-time working to protect jobs

Plans by Eurostar to introduce reduced hours and parttime working where possible throughout 2021 is designed to protect as many jobs as possible, according to the cross-Channel operator.

The company has already announced it will suspend services to the south of France both this summer and next, while the number of trains currently running to Paris and Brussels is greatly reduced. Additionally, while it has restarted its Amsterdam route, it is with a single train per day. Trains to Disneyland Paris begin running at the start of August.

The cuts were made following the outbreak of COVID-19 and uncertainties surrounding future travel patterns.

A Eurostar spokesman told RAIL: “The impact of COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented fall in demand across the travel industry. We are taking steps to protect Eurostar for the long term by reducing costs across the business and are taking a considered approach to reducing our payroll costs, working closely with trade union partners.

“We are looking to introduce reduced hours and part-time working wherever possible throughout 2021, to protect as many jobs as possible and retain the knowledge, skills and experience of our people for the recovery, keeping any potential redundancy to a minimum.”

The TSSA union has called for Government intervention to save jobs and criticised the Conservatives for selling the UK Government’s share in the business five years ago.

General Secretary Manuel Cortes said: “We will work constructively with Eurostar and ministers to protect our members’ jobs and the future of this vital service.

“Sadly, the Conservative Government sold our country’s share in Eurostar in 2015, while the French and Belgian governments continue to own their share of this company and will no doubt intervene to save jobs in their countries. Our government must step up to do likewise.

“It’s absolutely crucial that these services are retained and, once we come out the other side of this terrible pandemic, expanded so we can meet the challenges of climate change.”