April 2025
Better Jobs, Better Services – End Rail Outsourcing Hidden profiteers in Great British Railways Much of Britain’s railway services will return to public ownership in the next few years as the government brings franchises in-house and creates its new publicly owned company, Great British Railways. This is good news for passengers, rail workers and the tax paying public. However, what’s less well-known is that there is a hidden layer of contractors who are still making profits off the exploitation of thousands of rail workers. These are: • •
The outsourcing companies who contract with train operating companies to employ cleaners, caterers, security guards, revenue protection staff and workers on station gatelines. The sub-contractors who engage many thousands of infrastructure workers on various forms of zero hours and precarious contracts to work on renewing track, overhead lines and civil engineering projects for Network Rail.
Low pay, inferior contracts and precarious work These companies make their profits out of keeping workers on low paid, inferior or casual contracts, leaving these rail workers struggling to get by.