14 May 2026
RMT Press Office:
Rail union, RMT will ballot members at Heavy Haul Rail Ltd for industrial action after the company refused to rule out compulsory redundancies and pressed ahead with sweeping restructuring plans.
The union says the employer is seeking to cut jobs, merge grades and impose revised job descriptions across Control, Rosters, TOPS, Train Planning, Administration and Management grades.
RMT has warned that members are being asked to take on extra duties and flexibility without any guarantee of additional pay and being asked to relocate hundreds of miles away.
The major Rail Freight Bulk Haulage company which supports critical infrastructure building programmes, as well as renewal and maintenance work on Network Rail, has rejected the union’s call for a no compulsory redundancy agreement.
They have also dismissed proposals to protect existing Roster Clerk jobs and mitigate further redundancies in the crucial function of controller grades.
Bosses are trying to load extra duties onto staff, including control and delay attribution work, while refusing to guarantee they will be properly paid for it.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Heavy Haul Rail is trying to force through job cuts, merged grades and extra duties while refusing to guarantee no compulsory redundancies.
“Our members keep this operation running and they will not accept attacks on their jobs, pay and conditions.
“The company’s proposals are unworkable, damaging to the business and completely unacceptable.
“We will ballot our members for industrial action and we will be urging them to send a clear message to the employer that they will not accept these proposals.”
END
Notes: The ballot covers RMT members in Control Grades, Rosters, TOPS, Train Planning, Administration and Managerial Grades and closes on Tuesday 9 June 2026
Want to receive updates from us? Subscribe to a mailing list
Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, Heavy Haul Rail
Related News
- RMT issues joint letter with NSAR over GBR and productivity
- RMT responds to government consultation on mandatory rights for seafarers
- RMT calls for insourcing of all railway staff following GTR nationalisation
- RMT sends condolences to family of murdered London bus driver
- RMT to ballot Heavy Haul Rail members over job cuts and restructuring
Latest News
- RMT issues joint letter with NSAR over GBR and productivity
- RMT responds to government consultation on mandatory rights for seafarers
- RMT calls for insourcing of all railway staff following GTR nationalisation
- RMT sends condolences to family of murdered London bus driver
- RMT to ballot Heavy Haul Rail members over job cuts and restructuring
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: