Rail staff clamour for voluntary redundancy
More than 5,000 apply for redundancy even while RMT chiefs call industrial action opposing job losses
A voluntary redundancy scheme for rail workers has been inundated with more than 5,000 applications, casting doubt over union bosses’ reasons for launching the most aggressive strike action in a generation. Rail managers invited requests for voluntary redundancy last autumn. The number of applications, released under Freedom of Information laws, calls into question claims by “militant” trade union chiefs that rail leaders are imposing unwanted job cuts.
A VOLUNTARY redundancy scheme for rail workers has been inundated with more than 5,000 applications, casting doubt over union bosses’ reasons for launching the most aggressive strike action in a generation.
Rail managers invited requests for voluntary redundancy last autumn as part of efforts to reduce the burden on taxpayers caused by the pandemic.
Figures seen by The Daily Telegraph show that train operators received 2,949 applications to quit.
A further 2,159 applied for the scheme at Network Rail, the statebacked owner of tracks and stations.
Though the number of voluntary redundancies sought by managers is closely guarded, it is understood that applications outstripped places by roughly two to one at Network Rail.
Meanwhile, train operators confirmed that “we had more people express an interest in the scheme than we were initially able to accept”.
Union chiefs insisted voluntary redundancy programmes had only been offered to management grade personnel at Network Rail.
Nevertheless, the number of applications, released under freedom of information laws, calls into question claims by “militant” trade union chiefs that rail leaders are imposing unwanted job cuts to reduce costs. The figures also suggest that the organisation leading the dispute – the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union (RMT) – is now facing an existential crisis as members scramble to quit Britain’s rail sector.
Andrew Haines, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “We know there is huge latent demand within Network Rail for people to leave and move on – it’s mainly an age-profile thing – and it could be unlocked by the trades unions.
“Without flexibility from them, we won’t be able to make the savings that will permit us to open a voluntary severance scheme for their members. We hope they’ll settle down to some meaningful negotiations that could make any suggestion of compulsory redundancies, null and void.”
Between 40,000 and 50,000 RMT members will walkout on June 21, 23 and 25, disrupting Glastonbury Festival, the Headingley Test match, and those making their way to Armed Forces Day celebrations on June 25.
Strike action by Network Rail signal workers – the first such action in more than three decades – will bring services to a near-standstill. The industrial action will cost the Exchequer £100m in lost fare revenue and deliver an estimated £450m hit to the UK economy.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said this weekend that agency staff may be used to break “Marxist” union strikes – but will not prevent disruption later this month.
Strike action intensified last week as train drivers’ union Aslef has also announced strikes in June and July on Hull Trains, Greater Anglia and the Croydon Tramlink. A third union, the TSSA, is balloting for a walkout that could cripple the network completely in July as Birmingham prepares to host the Commonwealth Games.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “The industry is looking at several ways of making the railway sustainable for the long term – staffing costs is just one area of this.”
A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said: “The rail industry launched a voluntary exit scheme, the first of its kind, last year, in recognition that some colleagues wanted to use the skills and expertise they have built in our industry elsewhere. We had more people express an interest in the scheme than we were initially able to accept.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The only voluntary severance programme so far has been among managers and the total job losses among them up to this point has been over 2,500. There has been no voluntary severance exercise among RMT members.
“RMT is continuing dialogue with Network Rail on their ideas for cost savings but we remain opposed to job cuts, we will defend our conditions and we want a pay rise.”