Re-hiring hope for axed rail staff

The Government has told officials from the Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association that Network Rail had agreed to re-allocate work from the York-based firm in the next few days.

As many of the redundancies hit staff in York, Doncaster, and Leeds, campaigners say the move to re-hire workers is vital to keep skills needed for future rail projects , including new high speed routes, in the region.

On Monday, RMT general secretary Bob Crow and Manuel Cortes, deputy leader of the TSSA, will meet Babcock Rail, the likely new contractor taken on by Network Rail.

Mr Crow said: "It is quite clear that 1,200 frontline rail maintenance staff did not suddenly become redundant overnight when the company collapsed, and it is imperative that Network Rail is not allowed to use the crisis to drive down costs at the expense of our members' safety and conditions.

"We now need to make sure that justice is done and all Jarvis workers are transferred under their old terms and conditions.

"We do not want to see then exploited and endangered, working longer hours for less money under worse conditions."

RMT organiser Stan Herschel said: "I believe there has been a great deal of pressure put on Network Rail and this is the honest and decent thing to do.

"I understand that every one of the workers at Jarvis will transfer to Babcock Rail.

"It seems the work that has gone on behind the scenes may be paying off."

Former York Central MP Hugh Bayley, who is defending his seat in the coming General Election, said the unions had met with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis on Thursday.

Mr Bayley, who has been pressing for Network Rail to sign contracts immediately with other engineering companies to take over the Jarvis work and re-hire redundant workers, said: "This is very positive news.

"If every job was re-allocated I would be absolutely delighted. It is vitally important to re-employ the Jarvis staff before they start moving away to other jobs because these skills are needed.

"Last year 450 Jarvis workers were made redundant and they are now no longer in the area."

Administrators Deloitte announced the job cuts last month, saying that in the absence of further funding, it was not possible to continue operating parts of the Jarvis group.

Last week, rail engineers whose jobs were among the 1,200 lost in the collapse demonstrated in York to protest at the scale of the cuts when the network needs essential work.

Protesters marched on their former HQ at Meridian House, now occupied by administrators, and then to Network Rail's offices at George Stephenson House in Toft Green.

Network Rail has refused to confirm the news.

Network Rail's director of investment projects, Simon Kirby, said: "We will work closely with the administrators to keep our investment programme moving forward and have put contingency plans in place in relation to any work that can't be taken forward by Jarvis in the weeks ahead.

"The allocation of contracts to our suppliers follows strict guidance in order to deliver best value for money. There is no compromise on safety."

A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: "Network Rail are in the process of re-letting the contract and this is a commercial matter for them."