Transport for London has announced that it intends to privatise the East London Line once the extension is built. Hackney TUC has produced:

• a leaflet outlining our case against this. It is attached to this posting, so you can view, download and/or print it. The text is printed below.

• a leaflet advertising our public meeting on July 26th, organised jointly with the RMT. Click here to view, download and/or print it.

E-mail us to order printed copies.

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Stop East London Line privatisation:
We want a public tube for Hackney

Rail trade unions and Hackney Trades Union Council want the extended line to be a public, London Underground line, as the East London Line is now. We believe that privatising it would be a disaster for the workforce and local communities alike.

We are campaigning for a public Tube for Hackney.

“Rail privatisation is one of the most unpopular policies of the last decade - and for very good reasons. After the numerous safety disasters and deterioration in services, it beggars belief that anyone would still think that privatisation is the way forward for the East London line.
“Privatisation would be a kick in the teeth for Hackney. Local people have been campaigning for years to be part of London Underground.”
Janine Booth, President, Hackney TUC

Hackney is the only inner London borough without the Tube.
The East London Line extension (ELLX) will bring Hackney four new stations, connect us into the Tube network, and link our borough directly to south London. It could bring jobs, mobility, traffic congestion relief and other benefits.

But it can only do this effectively if it is a public service, not a private one.

Public transport should be run as a public service, not a source of private profit.

A private Train Operating Company would put profit first, and would compromise service standards, safety and workers' rights.

The experience of rail privatisation proves this. The fatal crashes. The dirty, overcrowded, unreliable trains. The record-level complaints. The fare hikes, continual demands for public subsidy, and scandalous fat-cat payouts to top directors. Which private operator would you like to see running Hackney's new line? Connex?! Silverlink?! Virgin?!

London Underground is not perfect. But it is better than the private sector. And while it remains publicly-run, we can have a more effective say in how it runs.

Opinion polls regularly show that three-quarters of people want the entire railway system renationalised. We agree.

The ELLX will give Hackney people the chance to get new railway jobs. If they are jobs on the public London Underground, they will be relatively secure, with OK pay and conditions. On a private railway, they will be low-paid and insecure.

Privatising the East London Line will also mean that over 100 existing LUL jobs will be transferred to the new private operator - handed over like slaves.

Residents have been waiting years for the ELLX. The Jubilee Line's extension came ten years before ours - a project connecting business and government areas took priority over a project connecting working-class residential areas.

We have been made to wait too long already. But that does not mean we should accept a substandard, private rail service instead of a public Tube.

“Privatisation would spell disaster for Underground workers and local communities alike. RMT will campaign alongside the communities affected - including Hackney - to keep the East London Line public and get the extension built.”
Jason Humphreys, RMT union representative for East London Line station staff

Support our campaign

Visit our website: www.hackneytuc.org.uk

Write to us: Hackney TUC, PO Box 44656, London N16 5YX

Phone us: 07957 217639 (Janine Booth, President)

E-mail us: janine.booth@btopenworld.com

Sign our petition - contact us for copies.

Let us know if you would like to receive news updates.

Invite us to speak at your residents' association, trade union, community or other group.

Write to Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, Greater London Authority, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA and send a copy of your letter to HTUC.