MPs support SET campaign

EARLY-DAY motion 254 calling for South Eastern Trains to be kept in the public sector has been signed by 112 MPs to date, thanks to the RMT postcard campaign. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was encouraging that so many MPs have already supported a motion that could help lead the way to the re-creation of a truly public railway. “When every penny should be spent on rebuilding our railways as a national asset, it is shocking that the government estimates that £4 million is to be spent on a re-franchising process that simply does not need to take place. “It is becoming clearer by the day that there is nothing at all to be gained from re-privatising South Eastern Trains, and more and more people are supporting the campaign to keep it in public hands,” he said. The government is to announce the outcome of the review of structure of the railways in July. RMT has been arguing that this is a golden opportunity to return the railways to public ownership. As part of the campaign the RMT Parliamentary group had a very busy month and RMT MPs have been strongly arguing to keep SET in the public sector. Jeremy Corbyn MP forced a special RMT debate on the future of passenger services, where a number of MPs conveyed to the Transport Minister that the government should put an end to the policy of franchising and instead return passenger services to the public sector. The following week, during questions to the Secretary of State for Transport a number of MPs again backed the RMT call for a return to public ownership of the railways. The next important step in the campaign is to hold a joint rail lobby on July 20, details below. THIS CAMPAIGN COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE POLITICAL FUND 9 112 MPs support call to keep South Eastern Trains public For a Publicly Owned Railway For a Publicly Owned Railway 11.30am Assemble Opposite Main Entrance to House of Commons ® Westminster 12.30–2.00pm Lobby your MP 2.00-4.00pm Rally Committee Room 14 National Rally and Lobby of Parliament Tuesday 20th July 2004 National Rally and Lobby of Parliament Tuesday 20th July 2004 Speakers so far Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary; Gerry Doherty, TSSA General Secretary; Graham Morris, ASLEF District Secretary; John McDonnell MP; Alan Simpson MP Speakers so far Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary; Gerry Doherty, TSSA General Secretary; Graham Morris, ASLEF District Secretary; John McDonnell MP; Alan Simpson MP By joining us on the rally and lobby you will behelping the campaign for a publicly owned railway. By directly lobbying your MP on the day you will make an even bigger difference. Don’t worry if you haven’t done it before, it’s easy! Simply write to your MP as soon as possible in advance of the rally to the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA or fax your MP by visiting WWW.faxyourmp.com. In your letter tell your MP that you wish to meet him or her between 12.30 and 2.00pm on July 20 as part of the lobby for a publicly owned railway. A model letter to your MP can be found by visiting our website www.rmt.org.uk Although you can turn up on the day, you will have a better chance of meeting your MP and making the lobby more effective if you contact your MP in advance. We will also provide a short briefing paper which you can use to lobby your MP; this will be available on the union’s website or will be distributed on the day. It would be helpful if you let us know that you will be able to attend the rally and lobby by emailing info@rmt.org.uk or calling free phone 0800 376 3706.