Night Shifts Are Wrecking Rail Workers’ Health and Family Lives, RMT Warns

Night Shifts Are Wrecking Rail Workers’ Health and Family Lives, RMT Warns

26 October 2024

RMT Press Office:

Night work is pushing rail workers towards dangerous health conditions and damaging their family lives, according to a new RMT report.

Based on interviews with rail staff from Network Rail, London Underground, and London Northeastern Railway, the study lays bare the severe impact of night shifts, highlighting widespread fatigue, long-term health problems, and intense pressure on family relationships.
 
The findings paint a bleak picture, linking night work to a range of physical and mental health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic sleep disorders.
 
Fatigue from back-to-back night shifts leaves many workers unable to recover properly before their next shift, with this recovery time going unpaid and eating into personal time.
 
There are also growing concerns about worker safety, especially during long commutes home after a gruelling shift, with inadequate fatigue management making accidents more likely.
 
On the home front, night shifts are tearing families apart. Workers describe how working through the night cuts them off from their partners and children, leading to strained relationships and, in some cases, family breakdowns.
 
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
"This report exposes the harsh truth about night work on the railways. Our members are suffering serious health issues and struggling to maintain a work-life balance. Chronic fatigue is a reality for many, and the industry's failure to manage fatigue puts workers at risk. The rail sector needs to step up and take immediate action to support night workers and protect their well-being."
 
The report also criticises management for failing to support night workers, with employees often left to deal with fatigue and health risks on their own. Many feel they cannot raise concerns about safety, while the physical demands of night-time maintenance work make conditions even tougher.
 
Key report findings include:
  • Serious Health Risks: Night work is linked to higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and severe sleep issues, compounded by chronic fatigue.
  • Impact on Families: Many night workers report feeling isolated from their families, leading to significant strain on personal relationships.
  • Lack of Managerial Support: Workers feel let down by management, with minimal attention paid to their safety and well-being.
  • Pressure to Take Overtime: Financial pressures and short staffing levels force workers into overtime despite health risks.
  • Poor Fatigue Management: Inadequate systems leave workers vulnerable to accidents and further health problems.
RMT is demanding that the rail industry overhaul night work policies, including offering more leave, compensating for recovery time, and implementing more flexible shift patterns to help workers manage their family commitments. Better fatigue management systems and stronger safety protections are also a priority.
 
Mr Lynch added: "We won't sit back while our members’ health is jeopardised. The rail industry must act now to provide proper support and improve working conditions for night staff."
 
END
 
CASE STUDIES FROM REPORT: 

John, Maintenance, Network Rail:
 
On management’s attitude towards safety:
"Nothing stops the job… you do what you're told, when and how you're told to do it… they don't want people to challenge [on safety issues]"​.
 
Jack, Track Inspections, Network Rail:
 
Critiquing managerial attitudes toward health and safety:
"Network Rail is not a family friendly company in the slightest. It likes to portray itself as being that way, but it doesn’t care, and they don't care about safety. I mean, I've just told you a couple of horror stories there"​.
 
Grant, Signalling & Telecommunications, Network Rail:
 
On overtime pressures affecting safety and well-being:
"If you don’t want it at all, they haven’t got any leverage. But if you’re someone who needs a bit of overtime from time to time, you’ll get pressured to do more, because they’ll take what overtime you’ve got"​.
 
Phillip, Team Leader, Signalling & Telecommunications, Network Rail:
 
Describing increasing fatigue as a result of night work:
"… when you get to 40 you feel the effects of nights really hit you. I’d say I started feeling that maybe around 38ish, and I just pulled off and didn’t do as many extra shifts"​.
 
Cheryl, London Underground:
 
Describing increased workload and reduced staffing:
"My job is incredibly stressful with the workload, which is more than I can manage. So, there was a reformation of job roles in 2016 called ‘Fit for the Future’ on London Underground. I’m responsible for the management of staff and their performance and all of their issues at five stations... There should be 10 people that do my job to manage that workload. Currently, there’s six... Hence why we are under. Two people have been off long-term sick for over six months with work-related stress as well as two vacancies"​.
 
Joan, London Underground:
 
On increasing workload and monitoring:
"The work had changed to a call centre type environment with increased monitoring (including micro-management) by managers, the use of work-flow KPIs, with less autonomy and more limited relationships with contractors and customers... the workload had increased due to more lines and stations to look after as well as new processes and systems with ‘teething problems,’ increasing the workload and time pressure"​.

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Tagged with: RMT, Mick Lynch, Night Shifts, Rail Workers