Defend public transport

Defeat Murphy’s privatisation plansBy Owen McCracken The Department for Regional Development (DRD) has proposed “reforms” to public transport that will target cuts of £12.8 million annually and see the increased privatisation of services. A new public transport agency would be established at Stormont to bring about the changes.

The plans will see Ulsterbus asked to cut 3% of current costs (£10 million), Metro bus asked to cut 4% (£1.4m) and NI railways asked to cut 3% (£1.4m). It is likely also that vital bus routes to rural and outlying urban areas will be cut with new powers devolved to local councils.

In addition, private companies will be asked to compete for all new contracts with the existing public providers, including the contract for the new Rapid Transit system in Belfast. The Minister, Connor Murphy, has said “There are private operators out there. We want to ensure that they work alongside, to enhance and improve public transport provision. But Translink will be the main provider”.

This part-privatisation will inevitably lead to private companies cherry-picking the profitable routes with the public operators managing the rest. In order to increase profit margins, private companies will attempt to drive down wages, increase fares and milk whatever public subsidies they can obtain.

The privatisation of the transport system in Britain has been a disaster. More public money is now spent on the rail network now than in the final years of the nationalised British Rail! An efficient, fully integrated transport system that meets the needs of society can only be built on the foundations of full public ownership and proper funding.

These measures are further evidence of the Assembly parties agenda of privatisation. The public will be invited to give their views on the plans during a series of meetings in December and January. Workers should attend these consultations to protest against these plans. Unite, the union which represents transport workers must oppose the opening up of transportation to the private sector. Workers terms and conditions cannot be protected by seeking assurances from Conor Murphy or any of the other right-wing Minsters. A campaign needs to be launched to defend the idea of a fully public and properly funded transport system.

Total
0
Shares
Previous Article

Magherafelt Council destroying jobs

Next Article

PROTEST FOR JOBS & A FUTURE

Related Posts

University cuts must be fought

On 23rd July, Queen’s University’s (QUB) senate met and agreed an academic plan for the next five years which will see 103 staff being made redundant. The most dramatic effect of the cuts will be the closure of the German department, but all the university’s schools will be effected in some way.

These cuts come despite QUB actually receiving an increase in funding of 2% for teaching and learning and 7.7% for research. The university management wish to shift the emphasis away from frontline teaching and local-oriented research towards international research, which lends more status within the prestigious Russell Group. Their stated aim is to make Queen’s one of the top 100 universities in the world within the next 5 years. The idea that this can be achieved while cutting staff and resources is entirely false.

Swastika graffiti on migrant homes in Holylands condemned

Anti-racism campaigner calls for community to stand together against racism

The appearance of racist graffiti on homes of migrant workers in the Holylands area of South Belfast has been condemned by an anti-racism campaigner.

Paddy Meehan, who organised a community solidarity protest against attacks on Romanian families in South Belfast in 2009, claimed
“Several homes have been targeted with racist graffiti in the Holylands area. Swastikas and slogans such as ‘Pakis Out’ are aimed at intimidating migrant workers and ethnic minorities in the area. If these racists are allowed to continue this unacceptable behaviour people will begin to fear for their safety.