RMT: Network Rail bosses enjoy five-star opulence while 1,500 face the sack (2.12.09)

RAIL UNION RMT has blasted senior Network Rail chiefs as it emerged that they are holding meetings in the five star opulence of Londons Langham Hotel while multi-billion pound cuts have left 1,500 essential safety maintenance staff facing the sack.

The Network Rail board met at the Langham Hotel on Wednesday 2nd December with the job cuts package one of the items under discussion.

The hotel's website it describes itself as a sublime choice among London luxury hotels." and. "impeccable 5-star luxury accommodation stating that .this luxury London hotel is the epitome of elegance and poise".

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said:

"While 1500 emergency track maintenance staff face the prospect of being slung on the dole this Christmas, their Network Rail bosses are strutting around in the five star luxury of the Langham Hotel.

"The top bosses at Network Rail are making multi-billion cuts to the rail infrastructure with the maintenance jobs of RMT members in the firing line. At the same time they are paying out wads of cash to enjoy the opulence of the Langham Hotel. Our members are furious and will not take this insult without a real fight."

Interview: GEOFF MARTIN

Camera & Editing: CHRIS KASRILS

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• rmt
• bob
• crow
• network
• rail
• posh
• scab
• dispute
• strike
• picket
• line

[steelhamster]

The RMT have long ago disassociated itself with the 'Labour' party. It has no ties with New Labour

[plastikbertrand]

If I was using taxpayers money I'd be basking in a 5 star hotel, what this union needs to look at is why Network Rail is still classed as a PRIVATE company!!!

[Gazantha]

We tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

[Gazantha]

Network Rail has the most corrupt, evil & incompetent managers I have ever come across. No man management skills what so ever. We need to strike NOW over thier ludicrous restructering proposal. Cutting this many jobs is just stupid, we can't even complete the amount of maintenance we have now, let alone with fewer teams.

[oneeyefsh]

Had this been a tory goverment cutting money to network rail the rmt would be screaming the odds and marching up and down the streets.When are they going to mention labour's part in all this?I certainly know network rail bosses are a joke but the fact is the rmt are just toeing the party line.people seem to think railway workers get a great wage but they dontI dont know how much they get paid in London but a maintenance i.a doing shifts gets only £320 a bare week.

[formidable38]

I know guys who hold a planning meeting every Monday that plan work from our huge maintenance job bank only to cancel it all the following Tuesday because we dont have the staff and/or money to do it NOW, let alone in 6 months time. These bean counters up in London are playing God and playing with peoples lives, It CANNOT go on! Ive seen this rail system go full circle now and we are heading back to dark days of 1996.

Colours of Railtrack anyone?? Its just a matter of when, not if.

[formidable38]

What realy does me in about this lot is the fact that my section has just had its maintenance budget cut AGAIN by 750K. Why? Do these people realy want another disaster on their hands? Hatfeild? Potters Bar? Grayrigg? etc. Because we realy are heading for just that all over again. Mr F and co realy dont know the true story about their "ultra reliable" infrastructure up there in the Ivory towers. Its just a matter of time before a tradgedy.

[formidable38]

With respect, strike is not the answer. Thats exactly what they want. If we go out, we will have to stay out, INDEFINATELY! Not just the odd weekend. They already have fully trained up contractors waiting in the wings. A work to rule will hurt just as bad while us people still earn a wage. How many now can afford to go out and stay out for the long haul, they would bust our arses big time.

[iasonas72]

these job losses will ensure they keep there big bonus's

[iasonas72]

second this