TSSA Takes Railways Bill Fight To Parliament As GBR Transition Looms

Rail union TSSA has taken its concerns over the Railways Bill to Parliament, holding a briefing for MPs as the legislation moves through its remaining stages.

The Bill is central to the creation of Great British Railways and is intended to bring train operating companies into public ownership.

TSSA said it strongly backs public ownership and has campaigned for the railway to be brought back into public hands after what it described as decades of privatisation.

However, the union is warning that the move to Great British Railways must include a fair transition for railway workers, with protections in place across jobs, conditions, pensions and union recognition.

TSSA said its members are already facing a number of concerns as the reform programme continues, including:

• Potentially many job losses – including across Network Rail, Southeastern and infrastructure companies

• Attacks on travel concessions

• A lack of protection for those in the railway pension scheme after privatisation began

• De-recognition of trade unions, including within Platform4, a Network Rail subsidiary and property development company for NR’s estate

The union used the parliamentary briefing to set out the case for its proposed amendments to the Railways Bill and to urge MPs to raise the issues during future debates.

TSSA said it wants the government to ensure that the transition to Great British Railways works for both passengers and railway workers.

Commenting on the meeting with MPs, TSSA General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust said:

“It was great to take our concerns to Parliament on changes which need to be made to the Railways Bill. Our union has fought tirelessly for our precious railway network to come back into public hands and end the rip off privatisation which has done so much damage to the only clean, green, mass transportation system we have in this country. The Labour government needs to ensure they get this transition to GBR right – so we are asking MPs to make interventions in the upcoming Railways Bill debate, to call out the government’s appalling actions against railway workers and to ensure the transition to GBR serves passengers and workers alike.”

Image: TSSA