Rail union RMT has welcomed the transition of South Western Railway (SWR) to public ownership, effective from Sunday, while urgently calling for the end of outsourcing for key frontline roles.
As part of the UK government’s wider plan for Great British Railways, the transfer of SWR into public ownership is seen as a significant shift away from privatisation. However, RMT has criticised the continued use of private contractors for essential services, including cleaning, security, and gateline operations, arguing that these arrangements undermine the potential benefits of renationalisation.
The union highlighted that private companies such as OCS, STM Group, Carlisle Support Services, and Adecco earned gross profits of approximately 9% from public rail contracts in the past year. Despite these profits, outsourced workers reportedly remain subject to low wages, inadequate pension schemes, and no entitlement to sick pay.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasised that true public ownership must extend to all rail staff, stating: “The job remains incomplete while essential staff remain outsourced and unable to benefit fully from nationalisation.”
Dempsey further stressed the urgency of bringing these roles in-house, aligning with the Labour government’s commitments on insourcing. He remarked: “The ongoing injustice faced by our members working under profit-driven contractors must end immediately. If ministers genuinely seek a fairer, more efficient railway, they must integrate all rail workers without delay.”
The union’s ongoing campaign, “Better Jobs, Better Services,” indicates that insourcing could potentially reduce rail fares by as much as 4%, simultaneously enhancing service quality and working conditions. RMT has pointed to successful insourcing initiatives already undertaken by publicly owned rail operators in Scotland and Wales as proven models.
Dempsey concluded: “We will ensure the Labour government honours its promise of implementing the most extensive insourcing initiative seen in a generation.”
