Prisoners carry out rail repairs

[Coxster]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6651251.stm (also see here).

Prisoners carry out rail repairs

Serving prisoners are being used to carry out maintenance work on Britain's railways, Network Rail has confirmed.

Union boss Bob Crow has reacted angrily, accusing the firm of deviousness and likening the practice to the US chain-gangs of the 1950s.

The RMT boss also suggested safety standards could be compromised.

But Network Rail said all workers were properly trained and vetted, adding that offenders would be doing "heavy lifting" rather than "specialist work".

A spokesman for the firm said one of the agencies that supplies workers takes part in a government scheme to help prisoners in the low-risk Category D reintegrate into society.

"Like many large employers, Network Rail uses agencies from time to time to plug gaps in its labour force.

"Anyone who works on the railway is properly accredited, trained and supervised at all times."

Mr Crow was unhappy that the union had not been informed of the practice.

"We aren't against anyone trying to get back into society from out of prison, but we do honestly believe that they should be taken on once they leave prison," he said.

"The fact is they've never ever told us that they've got these categories of people working on the railway.

"We don't know what safety standards these people have got."

(from RailChat)

 

[Oracle]

Ho hum, not that old chestnut again!

Go back, oh say at least 20 years. Ford Open Prison agreed with BR that Cat D prisoners could do community service on three local stations, Ford, Barnham and another. Basically, cleaning and clearing undergrowth, litter, etc. It was all set up, and meals were to be taken at an hotel in Barnham. Then someone leaked the story..the rail unions were up in arms about this because they claimed it was going to take jobs away from paid railmenrailwomen! Never mind that they were doing a volunteer job perhaps producing a station garden, etc. The concern was that in due course prisoners could be used to do other jobs...the whole brilliant idea flopped. Prisoners were subsequently collected by minibus and used on the Chichester Canal to dredge and clear undergrowth, etc based on a boat. No-one objected, and a good job was done.

Further, prisoners taught to drive buses have been used as bus drivers. In the past they have driven lorries with plants and milk, etc. travelling between prisons.

 

[The Snap]

I spose it's a good thing, but I'd rather see prisoners be sent into the army.

 

[Mintona]

I don't think this is really a story, unless Network Rail aren't giving them full training. And from what I read, it looks like they are, so what does it matter?

 

[rmt]

I don't think this is really a story, unless Network Rail aren't giving them full training. And from what I read, it looks like they are, so what does it matter?

They are getting full training Alice, I should know, I've seen their coursework

 

[Coxster]

They are getting full training Alice, I should know, I've seen their coursework

I read your replies elsewhere with interest.

 

[rmt]

I read your replies elsewhere with interest.

I can't see the point of posting them to every forum I go on, people will form opinions on what they have read, and what I post isn't going to change that.

 

[paul1609]

personally i think its a good idea for the railways to enter in to this sort of arrangement.
Whilst were on the subject of the rehabilitation of offenders isnt it about time the Railuk "judges" considered parole for one of our number currently serving a "life" sentance?
I'm sure you know who I mean bannana loving chap works on the track on the outskirts of Portsmouth
Please?

 

[Guinness]

Good idea. They're saving a few pounds worth of Taxpayers money that could be done by anyone with any a bit of basic training. IMHO it's a good use of resources. Prisoners get out and earn a small sum, Network Rail save money, passengers save money ultimately so it's win, win.

It they're was an accident related to this was too happen, ultimately it would be Network Rail's fault for not checking work properly afterwards...

Typical Media trying to stir crap up.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Really, they are just as safe as anyone doing the same jobs, it's mostly down to training and supervision in both cases. I'm sure prisoners are used in other situations where safety could be an issue (e.g construction, manufacturing), and the same applies, it's not like the railways are a special case when it comes to safety. Oviously they won't be doing specialist work since it defeats the point of getting free workers if you have to spend loads of time and money training them. The RMT is just worried that this might take jobs from his members, and as usual are playing the safety card to try and get public and government backing. Then again, it's nice that they are standing up for the lower workers, not just drivers, signallers etc.

 

[Oracle]

Prisoners are indeed taught construction work as part of training. They are subject to a forest of health & safety rules.

 

[compsci]

From what I read of Bob Crow's comments he was complaining about the prisoners not being in a union which could protect them or something. What he actually means by this is left as an exercise for the reader.

This somehow turned into a media circus with the tabaloids assuming that they weren't appropriately trained and hence that everyone using the WCML was doomed.

 

[Jim]

At school, we had to be given a H&S briefing before 1 tutor group could do bag packing at Asda

 

[morgantyreman]

I spose it's a good thing, but I'd rather see prisoners be sent into the army.

Why ?

 

[Jim]

Why ?

They can do less wrong. You see, someone earlier in this thread suggested that someone else would go & check what they have done, surley coasting just as much as them doing it them selves

 

[Snapper]

They can do less wrong. You see, someone earlier in this thread suggested that someone else would go & check what they have done, surley coasting just as much as them doing it them selves

Isn't that what trainings all about?

 

[TheSlash]

It's taking jobs away from people. All the while they have a van load of Prisoners, they don't need to hire a van load of contractors. My experience is that every van load of contractors always has at least 1 bloke who has been around a while and knows what he is doing, can't say the same for a van load of prisoners.

Well, that's it, been back 12 hours and already upset the Apple cart, see you all in 6 months time then

 

[Nick W]

It's taking jobs away from people.

Wouldn't you rather a bunch of strong convicts instead of the jackman to do the hard lifting work?

What's to say that they won't do extra maintenance rather than replacing contractors?

 

[TheSlash]

Basically, Nick, when it says that they are supervised, it actually means someone from a NR Pway gang standing over them, it's the same with agency staff. There is no detailed selection process as to who gets to over see, based on knowledge and experience, it's just the first person to shout "I'll do it"
What i meant by i'd prefer agency staff is that with a bunch of agency staff, at least they are earning and so not unemployed.
The rates of pay between NR and agency staff are closing, but NR staff already get the better deal as we recieved paid holiday, sick pay and pension. To make more than NR staff on the agency side, you need to do more skilled jobs such as COSS, Hand Signalman etc