‘OUTSOURCING IS A RACKET!’

14 RMT’s campaign against rail outsourcing included a rally in Manchester calling on Labour to implement its manifesto promises and bring workers in-house.   Addressing the rally, RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that “outsourcing on our railways is a racket. “Private firms are cashing in while cleaners, security staff and track workers, among others, are left struggling, often on low pay, insecure contracts and unsafe conditions. “We have overworked cleaners, for example, working while sick, as companies like Churchill hand millions to shareholders. “It’s totally indefensible and a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said. Also addressing the rally, Salford Labour MP Rebecca Long Bailey said that outsourcing on our railways was inefficient, drains passenger revenue, drives down workers terms and conditions and wastes taxpayers’ money. “Outsourced workers often fail to receive the same benefits as in-house employees, creating a divide within the workforce. “I am proud to support RMT in its national campaign to end outsourcing on Britain’s railways,” she said. RMT regional organiser Steve Shaw and North West TUC secretary Jay McKenna also exposed the ongoing structural issues in the rail industry regarding outsourcing at the rally. In a recent report, the union warned that despite government plans create the new publicly owned body Great British Railways (GBR), a ‘hidden layer’ of contractors continues to profit from the exploitation of thousands of workers. The report warned that such companies make profits by keeping workers on low- paid, inferior or casual contracts, leaving them struggling to get by. RMT argues that all rail jobs, from cleaning to catering, engineering to station services, should be brought back in-house to reverse decades of outsourcing that have driven down pay, eroded conditions and undermined safety. The union estimates that around £235 million flows out of Network Rail each year in subcontractors’ profits, with a further £130m going to outsourcing firms — about £400m in total. RMT research also shows that despite the cost-of-living crisis and rising labour costs, contractors have preserved their margins by using contracts that pass extra expenses straight back to the government. CHURCHILL SCANDAL The union is also supporting an outsourced member of staff working for Churchill on Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) who was reinstated after being sacked for speaking up about conditions, only to be dismissed again. Eddie Dempsey said that this was not an isolated case. “It’s part of a clear pattern of trade union victimisation, where raising a grievance or talking to your union is met with disciplinary action, reassignment or dismissal “It’s crucial that when Churchill’s contract expires, all members are brought back in- house,” he said. In a video message, he addressed Churchill cleaners calling for full support to their sacked rep. “Our union is very clear: cleaners need to be brought back in-house. “That was a promise made by this Labour government, who said at the last general election that we’re going to have the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation, and we want to hold them to account”. He added that the union is “stepping up its campaigning, building membership strength and preparing ourselves for any collective action that we might have to take. “We’ll continue to confront Churchill like we would any employee who treats our members in this disgraceful fashion. “Outsourcing is inefficient as companies cut costs to win ‘OUTSOURCING IS A RACKET!’ Labour must deliver on ‘biggest wave of insourcing in a generation’ promise STRIKE: Outsourced workers at CSS take strike action