SEVENTY workers have been sacked by a contractor providing on-board catering services on Southern and Thameslink railways with just four days’ notice.

Rail union RMT condemned the operators and catering firm Rail Gourmet for “treating low-paid staff like dirt.”

The workers will be “dumped on the stones” on Saturday, said the union.

The sackings are also bad news for passengers. Trolley services will be axed, even though some of Thameslink’s services take over two hours to reach their destination.

The existing Southern franchise ends on July 26 and a new joint Thameslink/Southern/Great Northern franchise starts on Monday morning.

RMT said that, in a further “ludicrous twist,” Rail Gourmet have offered consultation on the dismissals on July 27 — two days after the sackings take effect. A handful of workers will be offered new jobs on inferior pay elsewhere.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “This disgraceful move is an attack on both our low-paid members and the services they provide to the travelling public and we are calling for it to be halted immediately before the staff are thrown out of their jobs.

“This brutal assault is being driven through with just a few days’ notice and makes a mockery of consultation processes and the very basic duty of care to employees.

“The fact that is all bound up in the franchising process speaks volumes about how rail privatisation impacts on staff and passengers alike in the drive for profits. RMT is taking further advice and will do everything in our power to protect our members.”

Southern said it was working with Rail Gourmet to help their staff find employment and "prioritising" the sacked workers in its own application process. It emphasised that the Rail Gourmet is completely independent of Southern and was only contracted to provide catering services.