As train operating companies were this month put up for sale the form of rail privatisation was again changed with the announcement that most fares will be pegged to the rise in inflation.
A Gas or Telecom style sell-off has been abandoned -except for Railtrack - and instead the main rail services are to be subcontracted.
The new owners of the train operating companies will have to pay Railtrack to sidles. run over the lines, will have to hire out the rolling stock from another company, will be told the minimum number of servBy Ed George ment. THE WELSH Labour Party has committed itself to a Welsh Assembly to be established in the first year Fighting on for socialism Clause Four may be defeated, but the fight goes on for socialist policies in the Labour Party and the unions. BIRMINGHAM Watch this space for details! ices they have to run and the maximum fares in most cases.
Their only assets will be the existing staff and therefore their only real room for manoeuvre attacking those staff's pay and conditions.
Even the most draconian attacks on rail workers will not be able to provide major cost savings - instead any profit will have to be provided by the government. For years the publicly owned British Rail has been told it has to allow fares to rise in order to be self-financing - now it is clear that private railways are to have massive built-in subEven with these changes rall privalsauon remalls massively unpopular save for a few die-hard. Tories and of the next Labour govern- ble reform".
Although this is a step forward socialists need to be guarded. Tony Blair spelled out the core of the policy: "Labour" he explained "stands for moderate, sensimind. "more discussion". those managers looking to workforce. It looks at the exjoin the ranks of the super-rich perience of nationalisation in privatised company directors. 1948 and how railworkers deWhich is why the new mands for "workers control" pamphlet "Signal Failure - were denied. Rail Privatisation and the fight Arguing for a railway run against it" from the RMT by those who work in the inThames Valley District Coun- dustry, the need is posed for a cil is a timely publication. clear commitment from the The pamphlet exposes the Labour Party to renationalise reality of privatisation and its the whole network. What is consequences for service us- required is an expansion of the ers as well as those who work network as part of a socialist in the industry, how safety is plan which places social already being compromised. needs above the drive for and how services will be cut. profit.
As one manager put it "we The struggle over Clause 4 are here to make a profit, not shows how the defence of make the trains run on time". Clause 4 is linked to the renaIt examines the reality of tionisation of the railways. the "glory days" of the pri- The pamphlet is a must for vate railways when profit was railworkers, but it will also be sought at a horrendous cost in of value to all socialists. lives of a superexploited the Conference backed a call "Moderate" and "sensi- for an all-Wales march on the ble" means no powers to es- theme of "Wales demands an tablish primary legislation Assembly" against the recand no revenue raising capa- ommendation of the execubilities. Unlike the proposals tive. This for Scotland the Welsh ver- significant event in Wales. sion is to be elected by a first As is traditional at gatherpast the post system. ing of Welsh Labour a great Essentially what is being deal of hot air was generated put forward is an ineffectual attacking Plaid Cymru. "Natalking shop with a built-in tionalists" Blair told the conLabour majority. The phrase ference, "jobs for the boys" comes to country apart".
Sadly Mr. Blair's abhorAnd "boys" it will be - rence toward nationalism is proposals to ensure the repre- rather selective. It does not apsentation of women were pear to extend to imperialist, dropped at the last minute and big power, oppressor British referred to the executive for nationalism.
Indeed the assembly proOn a more positive note, posals were explicitly motiSOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 84 May 27 1995, Page 3 Electors