The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has demanded “urgent confirmation” that thousands of Metronet workers’ jobs would be secure, following reports that the company was close to administration.
Metronet, the company contracted to upgrade the London Underground network, was awarded just £121m of a £551m bailout it needed to cover major cost over-runs on the the Bakerloo, Circle and Victoria Tube lines, from a state appointed arbiter.
Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said: “Very few people will shed any tears if Metronet goes to the wall, but in its death throes it should not be allowed to decimate the skilled workforce that will be needed long after the company is forgotten.
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“If a failing privateer goes into administration, it should not be passengers who pay through increased fares or the scaling back of upgrades the Tube desperately needs, nor should the workforce have to pay the price through attacks on jobs and conditions,” he added.