Anger over NCL's York depot closure
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• A call for a public inquiry was made in York after all 32 men at the local National Carriers Ltd (Eastern Region) repair works were given six weeks' notice on September 17. Redundant employees included skilled fitters, auto-electricians and mechanics.
The York works, which services the area's National Carriers and British Railways' road vehicles, is to close on October 30. After a productivity review, vehicle repairs are being switched to depots at Hull. Bradford and Gateshead.
A spokesman for National Carriers in York said there had been oonsultation with the unions a day before the notices were issued. He declined to state the reasons behind the closure, but said the men had been offered certain alternative jobs with BR in York.
Mr A. R. Campbell. secretary of the York branches of the National Union of Railwaymen, embracing 4000 members, said the men were demanding a public inquiry into the closure.
Equipment recently installed at the works included a steam plant for cleaning vehicles which, it is claimed, could earn £100 a week from outside customers.
"The men are angry about this closure which follows a productivity team's review", said Mr Campbell. "The men claim they have not had an opportunity at any meetings to discover the productivity team's findings. Until pressure was brought there through our union at national level, and through the branch, they were not consulted at all about the productivity recommendations."