JOHN PRESCOTT's announcement that sub-surface London Underground lines are to be given to Railtrack marks a further step down the road or privatisation. In separating off the deep lines, to be offered to other companies, Railtrack have been allowed to cherrypick the economically safer lines. Despite much talk, before the General Election of standing up to the fat cats rrescott nas once again given into Railtrack. With Railtrack already making £1.3 million profit every day from the ex-BR railway their share price rose over El at the expectation of even greater profits.
Prescott continues to present his "Public Private Partnership" as some kind of short term leasing arrangement. After all everything will revert back to public ownership in the end. But this is a sick joke.
For the Underground workers involved it means immediate privatisation, with their jobs being transferred to Railtrack sub-contractors. They won't even have the safeguards that ex BR workers received under the Tory privatisation, losing pension and travel facilities if their new bosses transfer them from Underground work to other areas.
For Underground users the plans will inevitably mean massive hikes in prices. And despite the promise of investment in upgrading track and in new lines no guarantee of improvement in the rapidly deteriorating service. ASLEF General Secretary joined with Jimmy Knapp of RMT to condemn Prescott's proposals. This is a major step forward and must be welcomed. The prospect of united campaigning of all tube unions must be encouraged.
Certainly that was the view of the three hundred or so tube workers who came to the rally. Speakers from the floor repeatedly urged the unions to call joint industrial action in defence of their jobs. Rix and Knapp tried to duck out of any such commitment, pledging only to produce some joint propaganda. But with ASLEF reps no longer able to argue that this is an issue which does not affect them the opportunities to build unity of purpose in the depots among rank and file members of both unions must not be missed. Jimmy Knapp has never wanted to take the action necessary to win this campaign. On the one hand he has refused to allow any public criticism or calling to account of RMT sponsored MPs, despite RMT policy specifically laid down by last years annual conference. On the other he did his best to frustrate the industrial campaign last year, which then fizzled out this spring Crash helmets may be needed when some Left memall round in the fight to come bers of the Underground Regional Council took fright at wavering support in some depots.
The Campaign Against Tube Privatisation needs to be supported with local campaigns built right across London. Every candidate for the London Mayor (Tory, Lib-Dem and Labour), with the exception of Trevor Phillips, has already denounced Prescott's privatisation plans. The whole issue must be made a central part of the London Assembly elections.
An industrial campaign must also be reinstated. RMT members have shown they are prepared to fight. ASLEF must be drawn in as well. Above all, it is important that the rank and file is in control.
Tube workers know that united action can be effective in bringing services to a halt. On previous strike days many ASLEF members honoured RMT picket lines despite advise to the contrary from their reps.
With both unions standing together tube workers are unstoppable. Encouraging such joint action must form a central part of the strategy for the next months.
CATP - contact it at 47c Wadeson Street E2 9DP, 0171 981 8065.