Translink £20m cuts: Unite vows to fight for every job and routes serving deprived and rural areas

The transport body said that it was forced to take cost saving measures due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on revenues.

Translink said it has carried out an internal review to reduce operating, overhead and management costs, targeting £20million, whilst maintaining front line services. They stated that the review was “a necessary step towards ensuring a sustainable public transport network to support communities, the environment and the economic recovery in Northern Ireland post Covid-19”.

In addition, they are also proposing withdrawing from the Ulsterbus Tours business due to the long-term impact of Covid-19 on the tours market.

It is unclear as yet whether or which other services will be impacted in the north west.

Chris Conway, Translink’s Group Chief Executive, said: “The Covid-19 economic impact has left public transport globally in a very challenging funding situation. Translink welcomes the response from the NI Executive and Department for Infrastructure with emergency Covid-19 funding, however it is important to recognise the impact that Covid-19 will have on revenues for some time to come. We are targeting savings of £20m and as such, we have had to make some very difficult decisions.

“We aim to reduce the impact to employees as far as possible and are committed to maintaining front line services. As a result, these changes will have a minimal impact on frontline operational employees’ jobs, who continue to deliver scheduled bus and train services. However, in driving improvements to internal processes, we anticipate it is likely there will be a number of redundancies in management and overhead functions.

“We will be starting a process of consultation with employees and trade unions over the coming days.”

Unite Deputy Regional Secretary Davy Thompson said Translink was seeking 54 potential compulsory redundancies.

Mr Thompson said: “Today’s announcement that Translink is potentially seeking 54 compulsory redundancies and a withdrawal from Ulsterbus Tours will come as concerning news to the entire workforce. This is the first time in living memory that we face the threat of compulsory redundancies in Translink and reflects the particular challenges posed by the Covid pandemic against the backdrop of the long-term underfunding of public transport.

“Unite will enter consultation with Translink on this proposal with the aim of fighting for every job and countering the ripple effects that are likely to arise from the decision to withdraw from Ulsterbus Tours. We wish to make clear at the outset that our engagement is predicated on no impact to the provision of rural services or socially-vital services to deprived urban communities.”

Unite said it welcomed the response of the Department for Infrastructure to the sharp financial challenges posed by the Covid downturn which has dramatically reduced Translink revenues – but said the reality was that more needs to be done.

“Public Transport in Northern Ireland has been underfunded for years, if not decades, leaving it in a precarious state entering this crisis,” Mr Thompson said.

“If the Northern Ireland Executive and the Westminster government are serious about a green transition we need to see a sharp increase in funding.

“Today’s announcement of job-losses across the whole of the economy in Northern Ireland demonstrates yet again the need for Westminster to get real about sector specific support for jobs and skills – this must include support for public transport, alongside hospitality, tourism and manufacturing”, he added.