Rail jobs fears as city engineers face the chop off 80 jobs

Highly skilled engineers on the new £300million Airdrie-Bathgate rail link have been told they could be in line for the sack.

Thales, the major rail communications specialist, is to axe 80 workers because of “business challenges” triggered by a cut in big money orders.

Furious union leaders describe the planned jobs cut as a “hammer blow” and warn that around 20 telecoms engineers based at Linthouse, Glasgow, are among 220 UK staff who today face the threat of redundancy.

Thales chiefs, who operate another six telecom sites, will attempt to cushion the blow by introducing a voluntary redundancy scheme.

But there are fears not enough staff will want to give up a skilled job knowing there is little chance of them finding alternative work.

Compulsory redundancies are expected once a 60 day consultation period ends.

Bob Crow, leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said: “This latest hammer blow to the rail industry makes a mockery of the Government’s claims to be investing in our railways.

“These cuts will mean essential works at the heart of delivering a safe railway are shelved or scrapped, with potentially dire consequences for the public.”

A statement issued on behalf of the transport systems division of Thales said: “As a result of increased cost challenges within our transportation systems business we are proposing to remove up to 80 roles from across the UK.

“We will make every effort to minimise job losses and provide support to those affected.”

The shock announcement comes just weeks after the launch last month of the new Airdrie-Bathgate railway line and shortly after the industry regulator called for better passenger communications.

Thales engineers in Glasgow were brought in to upgrade the telecoms equipment at Airdrie Station and relocate station equipment at Drumgelloch and Bathgate.

From: Evening Times