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RMTnews :: june 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 8 R MT has joined a joint union campaign to defend public services from being hived off to the private sector. Since 1997, New Labour has continued the Tories’ drive to privatise our public services. Outsourcing, the Private Finance Initiative, contestability and other forms of privatisation are threatened across the public sector. Transport workers know all about the damaging effects of privatisation. RMT members employed on the railways and London Underground know better than anyone that privatisation means disastrous cuts to services and attacks on workers’ rights. Despite overwhelming support from Labour Party Conference and three quarters of the public, the government has refused to reverse one of the greatest policy catastrophes of recent times – the Torys’ privatisation of the railways. This is despite the fact that government subsidies are far higher than under public ownership, services are worse than ever and rail fares have increased by three times the rate of inflation. Staffing levels have been slashed and wages of many workers have fallen below average earnings. Meanwhile, rail companies are being allowed to take massive profits out of our railways network. On London Underground, the PPP has been disastrous and as safety standards decline the private contractors make record profits. Now there are proposals to privatise the Tube’s East London line. If this is allowed to happen, it could be the thin end of the wedge before the privatisation of more tube lines. Privatisation has also proved a disaster for buses. As well as cutting services across the country, profiteering companies are paying wages to bus drivers that are 13 per cent below average male earnings. Make your voice heard! Join the rally and lobby your MP. Public Services Not Private Profit! For further information please contact info@publicnotprivate.org.uk or call 020 7219 1626 ‘Public Services Not Private Profit’ Campaign – c/o G10 Norman Shaw South, House of Commons, London SW1A 2JF www.publicnotprivate.org.uk RMT JOINS CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND PUBLIC SERVICES