RMT rails against 'stitch-up' of skilled engineering workers
JARVIS WORKERS dumped out of work following the collapse of the company will demonstrate in York tomorrow (Wednesday April 14) demanding justice for 1,200 rail engineering workers needlessly made 'redundant' despite the need for essential work.
RMT has pledged full support for the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and has expressed anger that Network Rail and the government have failed to take the simple steps needed to save the jobs – and which would have saved millions in redundancy and benefits payments.
The demonstration will gather at the Crescent Club, The Crescent, York, at 11:00 before marching to Jarvis's offices at Meridian House, now occupied by administrators Deloitte, and then to NR's offices at George Stephenson House on Toft Green.
The protest will then move back to the Crescent Club for a rally with RMT assistant general secretary Mick Cash and Transport Salaried Staffs Association leader Gerry Doherty.
"It is absolute nonsense to suggest that 1,200 skilled Jarvis workers suddenly became redundant when the company collapsed, and Network Rail could easily have stepped in to secure their jobs," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"Jarvis had several lucrative contracts in the pipeline. That work still needs to be done, and it should be done by Jarvis workers on the same terms and conditions under transfer of undertakings rules, which our lawyers have told us should apply.
"We know that since the collapse Jarvis work been done instead by a labour-only agency not only paying rock-bottom rates, but also expecting people to work dangerously long hours on top of several hours' travelling time.
"We have people who have had no money for seven weeks – people who should be out there keeping our railways safe rather than queuing for benefits.
"That is a disgrace and it stinks to high heaven of a stitch-up, the more so when we know that it will cost the taxpayer dearly to make our members redundant rather than save their jobs," Bob Crow said.
No comments:
Post a Comment