Rail Against Privatisation

RMT will embark on a major campaign next year to raise public consciousness and apply political pressure in support of public ownership of the railways and an end to PPP on London Underground. In this election year the union is organising a national march and regional organisers, in consultation with regional councils and branches, have been asked to seek volunteers for the march from each regional council area. Arrangements are being made to deal with the various organisational issues including clothing, accommodation, banners, police permission and meetings and events. Regional councils will be encouraged to campaign in their own areas, including writing to MPs and prospective parlia- mentary candidates, leafleting, writing to local newspapers and working with trades councils and passenger groups. Below is the route and the towns which will be visited. Route for March G April 15 marchers arrive Glasgow. G April 16 leaves Glasgow for Edinburgh G April 17 day off G April 18 leaves Edinburgh for Newcastle G April 19 leaves Newcastle for Durham G April 20 leaves Durham for Darlington G April 21 leaves Darlington for York G April 22 leaves York for Leeds G April 23 leaves Leeds for Manchester G April 24 leaves Manchester for Sheffield G April 25 leaves Sheffield for Derby G April 26 leaves Derby for Birmingham G April 27 leaves Birmingham for Milton Keynes G April 28 leaves Milton Keynes for Watford G April 30 arrives in London for rally SUPPORT: RMT’s parliamentary group and head office will be supporting activities in a number of ways, including the production of parliamentary motions, parliamentary debates, a national postcard campaign, model letters and speakers notes and through the RMT news and the website. For further information contact Larry Cotton on larcot@blueyonder.co.uk 07793052138, or James Croy at head office 020 7529 8822, j.croy@rmt.org.uk 12 railagainst privatisation Members should write seeking support for Early Day Motions. Model letters can be obtained from the RMT Website or info@rmt.org.uk Public Ownership of the Railways EDM 382 “ That this House notes that since November 2003, passenger services have been operated in the public sector on South Eastern Trains; also notes that since that time punctuality figures have improved in every quarter; further notes that in the Network Rail areas where maintenance contracts were first brought ‘in-house’ delays caused by infrastructure failures have fallen between 36 per cent. and 50 per cent; welcomes these developments alongside the growing support for public ownership of the rail network and supports the principle of a integrated, publicly owned, publicly accountable railway.” South Eastern Trains franchise EDM 95 “ That this House recognises the improvement in reliability and punctuality of south east train services since the decision of the Strategic Rail Authority in November 2003 to return the service to public ownership and place the franchise under the management of South Eastern Trains; congratulates South Eastern Trains for its role in improving the performance in reliability and punctuality of both mainline and metro services to October; notes that in comparison with figures for 2003 mainline services were better in 10 of the 12 four week periods and metro services were better in seven and the same in a further two; further notes that several factors have contributed to the improvements in these services including the decision of Network Rail to remove rail repairs from the private sector and the decision of the Government to begin to upgrade the power supply on the southeast network; notes that these improvements are long overdue and that failure to deliver further improvements in the future under the new Integrated Kent Franchise will not be acceptable; further notes that these improvements represent value for money and a much improved service to passengers and calls on the government to recognise the performance of South Eastern Trains and consider a publicily owned operator as an option for the new franchise to ensure continued improvement and value for money on the UK rail network.” London Underground PPP EDM 383 “ That this House welcomes the decision of Network Rail to bring all maintenance back in-house on the national network. Notes that in the Network Rail areas where maintenance contracts were first brought ‘in-house’ delays caused by infrastructure failures have fallen between 36 per cent. and 50 per cent. Notes that Network Rail has stated that the decision will bring the benefits of a single integrated rail maintenance operation and management structure, which will improve track safety and standards of rail maintenance; believes it is now untenable to have fragmented maintenance on the Underground or to allow the same companies, such as Jarvis, that have been removed from maintenance contracts on the national railway to continue to profit from declining standards on the Tube; and calls on the government urgently to authorise the renego- tiation of the PPP contracts with a view to bringing all maintenance and renewals under the direct control of London Underground.” 13 rap railagainstprivatisation EARLY DAY MOTIONS ENDORSED BY RMT