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Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Outsourcing train cleaners is racist, says RMT union
Outsourcing train cleaners is racist, the RMT rail union has said. The union said that it wanted to end 'exploitative' agency hiring on the railways. It said outsourcing trapped thousands of black and minority ethnic staff in insecure jobs without pensions, training or promotion prospects, creating an 'effectively segregated' workforce. Outsourcing also lowered service standards across the rail network, the union said, as it called on the Government to bring the agency workers in-house. Eddie Dempsey, general secretary, said the RMT intended to fight 'tooth and nail' to hold Sir Keir Starmer to his promise to oversee 'the biggest wave of in-sourcing for a generation'. Mr Dempsey said black and ethnic minority workers 'bear the major brunt of this super-exploitation and are effectively trapped in second-class employment, unable to progress in a train company or Network Rail'. These claims are detailed in a new report, How Outsourcing Embeds Systemic Racism on the Railway, published on Tuesday. The report found that 58 per cent of outsourced cleaners and caterers were non-white, compared with a quarter of staff employed directly by train operators. People of African ethnic origin made up 22 per cent of all outsourced cleaners, but only five per cent of the workforce at National Rail and other operators. To understand the impact of this disparity, the RMT surveyed more than 500 outsourced workers. It said the results 'shed light on how outsourcing creates occupational segregation' and is 'reproducing systemic racism'. Lack career opportunities Train company employees have benefits, training and career progression that agency workers do not, despite working alongside one another on a daily basis, the union said. Seventy-seven per cent of black and minority ethnic respondents reported having never discussed a promotion, and 68 per cent said they had had no further training in the past three years. One respondent told the RMT: 'The only time the manager talks to his employees is to discipline them. I'd probably get the sack for asking.' Not all those surveyed wanted to move to a different role, with some just wanting to be properly paid and recognised. 'I'm happy being a cleaner but would be happier working for LNER, to be the same as the other station employees,' said another respondent. The report said: 'The prolific use of outsourcing by private train operating companies, and the failure to challenge this on the part of Network Rail and the publicly owned TOCs [train operating companies] has led to a significant level of ethnic and racial segregation in the rail workforce.' Eighty-three per cent of those surveyed said they believed passengers would get better service if roles were brought in-house under Great British Railways. 'We would be given proper training on how to deal with the customer and give the customers much better advice,' said one respondent. Another suggested the Government could reinvest money not spent on private contractors in improving train services. A spokesman for Network Rail said: 'Network Rail has a history of insourcing since deciding to bring the day-to day maintenance of our railway 'in-house' in 2004 when 15,000 workers were moved from private contractors, into Network Rail. 'The day-to-day safe running, operation and maintenance of our railway is delivered by direct employees.' A Department for Transport (DtT) spokesman told The Telegraph: 'Diversity and inclusion is pivotal to any industry's success, and we will continue working with industry to ensure everyone that works on our network is valued and respected.' The spokesman said Labour's plan to renationalise the railways, creating a Great British Railways state-owned enterprise, 'will sweep away decades of failure, ending fragmentation and waste and delivering for passengers, taxpayers and staff.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merseyrail strike called off last-minute after improved pay offer
Merseyrail cleaners have suspended their planned strike action after receiving an improved pay offer. Outsourced cleaners working on the rail service had announced their plans to walk out last month following a pay dispute with Churchill Services. The 48-hour strike was due to begin on Friday, April 4, as trade union RMT said staff had been left with "no other option". The improved offer will now be put to a referendum which will close on April 10, and the union is "strongly recommending" members to accept. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey, congratulating outsourced members at Merseyrail for standing firm in their campaign for better pay terms and conditions, said: 'This is a great victory for some of our lowest paid workers with an improved offer of nearly seven per cent, 20 days of sick pay and improved overtime rates. READ MORE: Jet2 says do this 'at least 12 hours before your flight' READ MORE: Rise in toll fees on Mersey bridges branded 'a disgrace' "This win would not have been possible without the strong resolve of our members. It remains our view that these workers should be insourced immediately so they can receive the same terms and conditions as directly employed Merseyrail staff." Churchill Services has been approached for comment. In strikes elsewhere, hundreds of workers at Livv Housing (LH) voted to escalate strike action which could result in six more months of disruption for thousands of tenants. Livv Housing disputes the 'union-busting' claim and said the contractors tasked with delivering some of its services are simply part of its ongoing 'delivery model'. Staff at the Knowsley-based housing association have been locked in a dispute with their employer for months and voted in favour of industrial action over a proposed pay offer last summer. This weekend is due to be busy across the Merseyrail network with tens of thousands of people expected to descend on Merseyside for the Grand National festival. Tens of thousands of people are expected to use the rail network throughout this weekend, with Merseyrail setting up services to get them from the heart of town out to the course on time and back again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Trains on the Northern line are also running on a slightly amended schedule from April 3 to 5. Changes are also being made to services around Aughton Park, Town Green, Ormskirk and Hunts Cross. As always, Merseyrail staff will be handing out their famous flip-flops to anyone with sore feet after a long day at the races. A seven-and-a-half-minute service will operate between Aintree and Liverpool Central/Moorfields from 10am to 1pm before the event begins and recommencing from 4.30pm to 8pm after last races. To allow the Grand National timetable to operate, Aughton Park and Town Green stations will have a 30-minute service from Thursday to Saturday. Direct services will not run between Ormskirk and Hunts Cross throughout the event days. Customers travelling between the stations are advised to change trains at Moorfields. During the period when seven-and-a-half minute services run in the morning and evening, services on the Headbolt Lane line will start and end at Sandhills. Customers for Moorfields or Liverpool Central, or those making the return journey to Rice Lane, Fazakerley, Kirkby, or Headbolt Lane are advised to use Southport or Ormskirk services and change at Sandhills during these times. Amendments will be made for Southport and Hunts Cross passengers. Customers travelling to the races from any Wirral line stations are advised to change at Moorfields for an Aintree-bound train. Customers can find the latest departure times by using the journey planner on the Merseyrail website or mobile app. Alternatively, they can speak to a staff member at their local staffed station for assistance. For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @ - official Liverpool ECHO accounts - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Merseyrail cleaners dispute ends as pay offer accepted
A dispute between cleaners on the Merseyrail transport netrwork and the outsourcing firm Churchill Services has ended after workers accepted a pay members, who had threatened 48-hour strike action during the Grand National race festival, voted overwhelmingly to accept the offer, the RMT union new agreement includes a six per cent pay rise backdated to April 2023, a further five per cent from April 2024, improved sick pay, and an uplift to a £15 minimum hourly rate from April 2025 It maked a "significant victory for the low-paid cleaning workforce", the RMT said. Churchill Services declined to comment. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the victory was down to the "guts and determination of members who stood strong throughout the dispute"."They have won better pay, better conditions, and the respect they deserve," he said."But this win should not have taken strike action to settle as cleaners working on Merseyrail should not be outsourced in the first place."Merseyrail needs to be brought back into full public ownership, and that means bringing cleaning staff back in-house where they belong."As long as profiteering contractors like Churchill are involved, workers will always be fighting uphill."Public transport should be run in the public interest – not to line the pockets of private firms."Merseyrail have been contacted for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Merseyrail: Cleaners to strike on Aintree Ladies Day
Cleaners on Merseyrail are set to strike during next month's Aintree Ladies Day after rejecting a pay RMT said outsourcing firm Churchill Services had refused to put forward an acceptable offer, leaving workers no other option but to take strike action.A 48-hour walkout is due to begin on the 4 April during the Grand National festival, one of the network's busiest days. A Churchill Services representative said the company is committed to working with the union to find a positive resolution to the dispute. "Churchill must recognise that our members are some of the poorest paid in our industry and need a pay offer that lifts them out of poverty," RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said."The current offer falls well short of that modest demand and now we have to make the employer understand that our members are serious about securing a fair pay deal."It remains our view that these workers should be insourced immediately so they can receive the same terms and conditions as directly employed Merseyrail staff."A Churchill Services representative said: "Our priority is always to support our colleagues and we remain focused on constructive dialogue and maintaining open lines of communication." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Staff on Merseyrail call for change amid pay row
Staff on Merseyrail are set to strike next month over pay. Cleaners on the network will take 48 hours of strike action from April 4 after they rejected a pay offer from Churchill Services. Despite repeated attempts to negotiate, the cleaning staff's union says the cleaning and facilities management company has not put forward an "acceptable" pay offer, urging workers to take strike action. The union, RMT, is in talks with Churchill Services however a spokesperson has said if the company fails to engage, it will "escalate" an industrial campaign. READ MORE: DWP benefit cuts confirmed with big changes for PIP RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: 'Churchill must recognise that our members are some of the poorest paid in our industry and need a pay offer that lifts them out of poverty. 'The current offer falls well short of that modest demand and now we have to make the employer understand that our members are serious about securing a fair pay deal. 'It remains our view that these workers should be insourced immediately so they can receive the same terms and conditions as directly employed Merseyrail staff.' In strikes elsewhere, hundreds of workers at Livv Housing (LH) voted to escalate strike action which could result in six more months of disruption for thousands of tenants. Livv Housing disputes the 'union-busting' claim and said the contractors tasked with delivering some of its services are simply part of its ongoing 'delivery model'. Staff at the Knowsley-based housing association have been locked in a dispute with their employer for months and voted in favour of industrial action over a proposed pay offer last summer. Earlier this month, planned strikes by train managers on Avanti West Coast were called off after a new offer was presented to the union. For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @ - official Liverpool ECHO accounts - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
