BOSSES at a rail components firm which built the Flying Scotsman have “behaved disgracefully” by proposing to fire and rehire workers, RMT charged today.

Wabtec Doncaster, based in Hexthorpe, plans to make 80 jobs redundant and insist staff re-apply for their roles on inferior terms and conditions, the rail union said.

RMT warned an industrial response is possible, accusing management, which wants to “realign” the site, of showing a “complete disregard for serious talks” during 12 months of negotiations. 

Union general secretary Mick Lynch said the firm’s fire-and-rehire tactics are a “kick in the teeth which will not go unanswered.

“[It] wants our members to pay for the company’s financial problems by sacrificing their terms and conditions.

“Wabtec Doncaster has a proud history, where predecessors built the Flying Scotsman and Mallard locomotives.

“Today’s management are doing a disservice to the current workforce and soiling its past reputation.”

The company is part of the US-based Wabtec Corporation which employs 27,000 people in 50 countries and has an annual turnover of about £6 billion.

A company spokesperson told the Star: “We have been negotiating with the trade unions for 12 months to try and achieve modern working practices at our Doncaster site.

"We have now reached an impasse in these negotiations with staff representatives. Due to this, and the challenging economic climate, management has opened a consultation on redundancies.

"We are always open to dialogue with employee representatives and the welfare of our employees continue to be at the forefront of our activities.”