By Confusion surrounding closure of Doncaster rail firm
A rail firm in Doncaster has hit back following union claims that it plans to close its works completely, creating confusion amongst staff and authorities.
Last month, Wabtec Rail announced plans to axe 450 jobs at its Doncaster factory.
Bosses at the Rail, Maritime and Transport Worker’s Union subsequently suggested that the firm had plans to close the factory completely, increasing the number of job losses to around 760.
Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT, said:
“Further information has been provided to the union with the company’s real intentions for its workforce.
“If making 450 redundancies was not bad enough, the company have now said that it will actually make 760 posts redundant, including all 682 manual graded staff, still cutting the 450 posts from the workforce but forcing the remainder into newly created posts with different contracts of employment and associated terms and conditions.
“Not only that, but Wabtec has also hinted that it may even close the entire site down and sell off the premises and land.”
Wabtec have said that the claims are “completely false”.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“The statements regarding plans to close our Doncaster plant are completely false.
“There are no such plans.
“As we announced a few weeks ago, the Doncaster plant is refocusing its efforts on projects that are more suited to its operational strengths.
“The company is in a 45-day consultation with the trade union and employee representatives to discuss that proposal.
“This consultation is important to position the plant for long-term success.
“It is critical to improve the plant’s efficiency and cost competitiveness in this challenging market.
“We are working with the trade union and employee representatives to achieve that goal.”
In June, all 952 staff were told that due to the coronavirus crisis there is not enough work for everyone, ahead of a 45-day consultation period.
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