Press Release

9 March 2004

Network Rail job losses starving industry of skills

TSSA, the UK's second biggest rail union, has reacted angrily to today's announcement of 83 redundancies by rail contractor Jarvis, blaming Network Rail for the job losses. The redundancies will hit Jarvis' signalling projects offices and depots in Doncaster, Manchester and Chester.

Negotiations officer Steve Coe said: "Only in the crazy world of the privatised railway could there be a situation where Network Rail is boasting about how much they are spending on new signalling, while starving one of their main contractors of work.

"Highly skilled engineering staff will be made redundant at a time when everyone agrees that the railway has severe and growing capacity problems.

One way of solving those problems is to invest in new signalling.

"Unless Network Rail takes a more sensible and strategic view, they will find that the skilled staff needed to deliver new signalling schemes will no longer be there."

The situation with signalling staff is not only confined to Jarvis, and also mirrors the current uncertainties being experienced regarding future track renewals contracts.

Steve Coe continued: "TSSA demands that railway staff and the railway industry must be safeguarded for the benefit of the nation. Having brought maintenance in-house, Network Rail must take the next logical step and assume direct responsibility for both track and signalling renewals work. This will bring about the sort of stability which is essential to the long term future of the railways."

ends

For further information, please contact:

Hannah Leggett press officer (020) 7529 8059 or 07769 682806

(mobile)

Notes to Editors

1. TSSA represents 33,000 members in administrative, clerical, managerial, professional and technical jobs in the railways, buses, the London Underground, the travel trade, canals, ports and ferries, and road haulage.