TSSA warns of national dispute over Network Rail ‘modernisation’ plans

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has written to the boss of Network Rail (NR) outlining ‘grave concerns’ that job cuts planned by the company undermine railway safety and are likely to spark industrial dispute. 

In this he asks Andrew Haines to clarify comments which suggest he is preparing the company to open a compulsory redundancy programme. 

TSSA is calling for a no compulsory redundancies agreement with NR for 2022, as the company seeks to cut more than 900 jobs in their Management grades. This is on top of 1,000 employees in the same grades who are being allowed to leave under NR’s own Special Voluntary Severance Scheme. 

NR has set about making workforce cuts of around £270m per year and is seeking to cut nearly £4billion from its overall budget across Control Period 6 (CP6) which runs from 2019 to 2024. 

In his letter to Haines, NR Chief Executive, Cortes writes- ‘I have grave concerns around the impact the cuts to staff will have on the future safe running of the railway, for the travelling public, our members, and their colleagues. 

‘We need assurance that Network Rail has a full understanding and is taking all steps necessary to ensure that the industry remains safe to use and safe to work’. 

The union leader goes on to say - ‘we have well established National Collective Bargaining Agreements covering all our members in Network Rail. Despite the devolved nature of the business, Network Rail remains a single entity, therefore, all consultation on the Modernisation of Network Rail must be held at a national level.

‘We see this as one of the essential components in helping secure our members jobs, allowing for national redeployment across all Regions and Function. 

‘We have made it clear, that we cannot and will not accept these cuts being achieved through compulsory redundancies’. 

‘Can you please respond, by Monday 21st February 2022, in writing. If your response does not include the above commitments, then Network Rail and our union will be in dispute, across all grades, all regions, and all functions’. 

*Full text of the Manuel Cortes Letter to Andrew Haines, 

'Andrew, 

I am writing with concerns around the ‘Modernisation’ plans for Network Rail. 

We have already begun consultation around changes to the Management structures and have also had sight and word of the intentions for the Modernisation of Maintenance and other areas of Network Rail. 

I am concerned by articles in the media this week which state that you personally revealed that Network Rail is preparing to open a compulsory redundancy programme. I sincerely hope you have been misquoted on this and I hope that we are not expected to find out your plans via the media. 

Whichever way you view the proposals, it is quite clear that to achieve your aims we will see reductions in headcount across the business, at all grades. 

We know you are seeking a further £0.5Bn in “efficiencies” in addition to the £3.5Bn as part of the CP6 settlement. In Management Grades your plan includes workforce savings of at least £170m per annum. We have not been given any formal proposals for Maintenance, but we understand the plan is to make workforce savings of around £100m per annum. 

We have made it clear, that we cannot and will not accept these cuts being achieved through compulsory redundancies. 

I understand Network Rail is not averse to wanting to achieve the required headcount through voluntary severance and redeployment – if this is the case, then give us a no compulsory redundancy agreement, at least until the end of 2022. 

I am concerned that Network Rail say the Modernisation plan will be undertaken individually by the Regions and Functions. This fragmented approach to what is clearly a national issue is unacceptable. We have well established National Collective Bargaining Agreements covering all our members in Network Rail. Despite the devolved nature of the business, Network Rail remains a single entity, therefore, all consultation on the Modernisation of Network Rail must be held at a national level. 

We see this as one of the essential components in helping secure our members jobs, allowing for National redeployment across all Regions and Functions. 

I have grave concerns around the impact the cuts to staff will have on the future safe running of the railway, for the travelling public, our members, and their colleagues. We need assurance that Network Rail has a full understanding and is taking all steps necessary to ensure that the industry remains safe to use and safe to work. 

We expect this to be done at a national consultation level and that all Regions and Functions must adhere to the outcomes as a minimum set of principles. We cannot and will not accept any compromise on safety. 

Your intentions are now clear, and our position is equally as clear. We seek a no compulsory redundancy agreement, a commitment that the Modernisation of Network Rail will be dealt with at National level, and that the safe running of the railway will not be compromised. 

If these commitments can be achieved up front, we can then move forward and work with you to ensure that we deliver a modern railway that is safe, fit for purpose and continues to offer meaningful employment. 

Can you please respond, by Monday 21st February 2022, in writing. If your response does not include the above commitments, then Network Rail and our union will be in dispute, across all grades, all regions, and all functions. 

Regards 

Manuel Cortes, 

TSSA General Secretary’