One third of Britain's rail network is under threat of cosure because the fories plan to hal ve their subsidy to British Rail over the next two ycas According to the Guardian, senior BR managers fear the "worst cuts" since the mass line cosures by Lord Beeching 30 years ago, in spite of claims by the Tories that privatisation would not lead to a worsening in service and line cosures would be strictly monitored.
In terms of the impact on BK employees, 7,000 of them have been given severance money or will be given severance money in the near future. It is expected that in 1994 the number given severance will rise to 20,000.
Even prospective private 020203: 2C/12-2=180003 Jimmy Knapp, leader of the biggest rail union, the RT, is calling pon the public to "bombard their MPs with pro. tests" over the BR sell-off plans, according to the Morning Star.
"The same cource cited AS LES train drivers' leader Derek Fullick who some time ago called cynically for a 'general strike while doing nothing to build for it, saying that a train driver would be sacked "who ignored as many warning signals as this government has done over rail rauck cais upon everyone to appeal to John Major to stop before his "Dogma Special hits the buffers".
While there may be some in -cidental benefit to the Post Oftice in volved in filling those red pillarboxes with torrents of there is another wawerward. Iris, cuite simply. 63 e = the fight for jobs. This decision was taken after consultation with other unions, including the NUM. of members of various unions in pubic sector goos orrers an opportunity to fight more than just the axing of rail lines; it is a real opportunity to make "unite the struggles" something more than a pious and ineffectual phrase repeated in the far-left press.
But the 5 March ballot must produce a "yes" vote and susensure that apathy and despair letting Tories and bureaucrats off the hook.
Her Majesty's Royal Train may also fall victim to Tory proposals. Revolutionary Marxists will, be stunned with grief at the possible loss of this priceless matt o our natonal hentage..
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