SAVE SCOTTISH RAIL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2020 :: RMTnews 7 R MT has called for a stop to proposed cuts at Glasgow Queen Street’s ticket offices in the station’s travel shop. Glasgow Queen Street station, which is Scotland's third busiest railway station, has been in redevelopment for some time. Prior to the redevelopment, there were six ticket selling windows in the station travel shop. However, Abellio Scotrail's plan for the new station include just two open plan point of sale 'pods'. RMT has serious concerns about the security and health and safety implications of the new layout, which are particularly pertinent since the outbreak of Covid-19. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that cross Britain's railways, train companies were attempting to cut station staffing, and Abellio Scotrail is no exception. “In fact, the company's latest accounts show that the number of station staff has decreased by 25 per cent since the company took on the franchise. “RMT intends to fight the proposed changes at Glasgow Queen Street with all the means at our disposal as we believe this is an attempt by the company to cut staffing costs and force passengers to use Ticket Vending Machines and online ticketing rather than getting expert advice and information from the travel shop,” he said. L eading railway engineering company Wabtec Rail has announced 450 job losses at its main Doncaster site just months after cutting 100 jobs and the closing the firm’s train carriage refurbishment works in East Ayrshire. The company undertakes the maintenance, overhaul, refurbishment and repair of passenger and freight rolling stock. The firm said that it was now planning to “consolidate” its operations in Doncaster following a reduction in orders. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the plan to almost halve the Wabtec Doncaster workforce with the loss of 450 jobs was devastating news for the area and the industry and was wholly opposed by RMT. "The fact that these savage cuts have been smuggled out under the cloak of the COVID-19 crisis is a disgraceful way to act and the plans should be immediately withdrawn to allow for discussions with the government and local politicians on how we protect these skilled engineering jobs before they are lost for good. "RMT'S executive will be considering a detailed response to the plans which are another sign of the kind of carnage that is being lined up for the engineering and transport sectors off the back of this pandemic,” he said. The 22 acre site alongside the East Coast mainline Doncaster Works has a long history in the construction and maintenance of trains, the works being the birthplace of famous steam locomotives such as the Flying Scotsman and the world steam speed record holder Mallard. RMT has called on the Scottish government to take urgent action to protect vital jobs on the railway in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Since Scotland went into lockdown railway enhancement works have fallen under the same restrictions as the wider construction sector. However, as lockdown measures are eased RMT is confident these works can be recommenced with the strictest possible health and safety guidelines and hundreds of jobs across Scotland’s railways can be protected. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the health and safety of members is paramount and RMT reps are now confident Scottish railway enhancement works can be recommenced safely as they have been in England and Wales. “For some reason, despite our reassurances, the Scottish Government is insisting this sector remains under lockdown which is now putting hundreds of my member’s jobs potentially at risk.” "To compound matters further rail renewals works continue to go ahead in Scotland while enhancements remain out of bounds to our members despite the exact same risk control and additional safety measures being in place. " RMT believes that if this current illogical position remains in place rail infrastructure workers will potentially be thrown on the scrap heap simply due to political decisions being made which are totally contrary to the advice being given to Scottish Government Ministers by Network Rail on behalf of the rail Infrastructure contracting supply chain and by RMT on behalf of the workforce. “We are ready to offer those reassurances to the First Minister and Scottish Government and have today requested an urgent meeting to agree a way to protect jobs whilst ensuring the highest standards of health and safety,” he said. HALT GLASGOW TICKET OFFICE CUTS ENGINEERING JOBS CULL IN DONCASTER SAVE SCOTTISH RAIL RMT demands urgent restart of railway enhancement works in Scotland