NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release 3 October 2003

TSSA anger over Network Rail jobs cull

Britain's second biggest rail union Transport Salaried Staffs' Association(TSSA) has reacted angrily to news that Network Rail is to make up to 700managers redundant.

TSSA was first informed in May this year about Network Rail's plans togradually make up to 2,000 staff redundant by 2007. But the union isshocked that such a large number of managers are to go in as soon as sixweeks.

National negotiations officer John Munday said: "Earlier this year we weretold that Network Rail would be making redundancies through processes suchas setting criteria for using consultants and targeting agency andcontract staff.

"But yesterday, the company informed us of its 'efficiency programme' andthat as a first step it anticipates between 500 and 700 redundancies inmanagement posts. This is a knee-jerk reaction that will ultimatelybackfire on Network Rail.

"The process it has used is to rank managers into A, B and C grades, withthe majority of managers in B grade, which it terms 'the mainstay of everycompany'. The bottom 15 per cent falling into C grade will lose their joband this will have a deeply demoralising effect on the remaining managers,who have to implement the cost reduction programme. They will be foreverlooking over their shoulders wondering if they can trust this companyagain.

Mr Munday continued: "Normally the company would look at work streams andidentify areas of activity that would be scaled back. But in this case,Network Rail is dumping their employees and making the work fit aroundthose who are left.

"We are also worried about the impact that this news will have health andsafety at Network Rail. How can managers be expected to concentrate ontheir job of running the railway safely when they have this looming overthem?"

TSSA gained sole union recognition for 4,700 managers at Network Rail inNovember last year. This means the union is able to negotiate with NetworkRail on matters including pay, working hours and holidays.

ends

For further information, please contact:
Hannah Leggett press officer (020) 7529 8059 or 07796 682806 (mobile)

Notes to Editors
TSSA represents 33,000 members in administrative, clerical, managerial,professional and technical jobs in the railways, buses, the LondonUnderground, the travel trade, canals, ports and ferries, and roadhaulage.