RMT Threatens Strike Ballot Over Heavy Haul Rail Job Cuts

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers has announced plans to ballot members at Heavy Haul Rail Ltd for industrial action amid an escalating dispute over restructuring proposals and potential job losses.

The union claims the freight operator is pushing ahead with plans that could see jobs cut, roles merged and revised job descriptions introduced across several departments, including Control, Rosters, TOPS, Train Planning, Administration and Management grades.

RMT says staff are being asked to take on wider responsibilities and increased flexibility without guarantees of additional pay, while some workers could also face relocation over long distances as part of the proposed changes.

The dispute centres around the company’s refusal to agree to a no compulsory redundancy deal, something the union says it repeatedly requested during talks. RMT has also accused the company of rejecting alternative proposals aimed at protecting existing Roster Clerk positions and reducing the impact on controller grades.

According to the union, management is attempting to transfer additional duties onto employees, including control and delay attribution responsibilities, without confirming whether workers would receive extra pay for taking on the expanded workload.

Heavy Haul Rail operates within the rail freight and bulk haulage sector, supporting major infrastructure construction projects as well as maintenance and renewal activity across the Network Rail network.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said:

“Heavy Haul Rail is trying to force through job cuts, merged grades and extra duties while refusing to guarantee no compulsory redundancies. Our members keep this operation running and they will not accept attacks on their jobs, pay and conditions. The company’s proposals are unworkable, damaging to the business and completely unacceptable. We will ballot our members for industrial action and we will be urging them to send a clear message to the employer that they will not accept these proposals.”

Image: RMT