Rail Union RMT revealed today that Network Rail have threatened to sack their entire maintenance workforce of 13,000 and to re-employ a reduced number of workers on new terms and conditions in a bid to bulldoze through a multi-billion pound cuts package.

The threat to sack the workforce, who carry out the essential day to day maintenance of tracks, signals and overhead lines, was thrown at RMT representatives during re-organisation talks.

Network Rail have already said that they aim to get rid of 2,500 jobs, 1,800 permanent staff and 700 contractors, which amounts to nearly 20% of the maintenance workforce. RMT has been demanding that the company stick to a clear assurance that they have given to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis that there will be no compulsory redundancies.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, who has written to Network Rail Chief Executive Iain Coucher today demanding that the mass dismissal threat be withdrawn, said:

“It defies belief that the entire workforce of 13,000 staff out there on the tracks who keep our rail network safe are being threatened with the sack in one hit but that is exactly what Network Rail have said.

“RMT takes this threat deadly seriously. The rail maintenance workforce have got a gun pointed at their heads and this union will not negotiate in an atmosphere of threats and intimidation designed to bully our members into signing up to job losses and attacks on their terms and conditions.

“RMT is seeking a clear assurance that Network Rail will stick to the promises it has given Transport Secretary Lord Adonis on no compulsory redundancies, an assurance that has been relayed by the minister to the RMT group of MP’s.

“If we cannot get those assurances then RMT will have no hesitation in considering a ballot for action to protect our members jobs and their livelihoods.”