HTUC asks Hackney Councillors: Do you oppose East London Line privatisation?

Submitted by Janine on Thu, 18/05/2006 - 12:46.

Hackney TUC has written to every member of Hackney Council asking their views on East London Line privatisation. The text of the letter is below, and responses from Councillors will be posted as comments at the end of this article.

You can check who your councillor is here

Dear Councillor

Last month, Transport for London (TfL) announced that once extended, the East London Line will be privatised.

Hackney TUC opposes this decision, and would like to know your views on it.

We believe that:

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

  • A private Train Operating Company (TOC) would put profit first, and would compromise service standards, safety and workers’ rights.
  • Rail privatisation has been one of the least popular policies of the last two decades, and should not be extended.
  • The railway jobs that will be created at Hackney’s new stations should be secure, and with decent pay and conditions, rather than insecure and low-paid. London Underground station staff jobs are significantly better on this count than private-sector station jobs.
  • Hackney has campaigned for years for the Tube, and that is what the borough should get – a London Underground line, not another TOC line.

[To Labour Councillors only: We would also remind you public ownership of the railways is Labour Party policy.]

Councillors are the elected representatives of local people. The stance you take on this issue will influence TfL as to whether it pursues this decision or sees sense and reverses it.

So Hackney TUC is asking you – and all Hackney Councillors – a straightforward question. Do you support the privatisation of East London Line passenger services? Or would you prefer the line to remain part of the publicly-owned London Underground?

Thank you.

Yours,

Janine Booth


President


Hackney TUC

If you require more information, please feel free to phone me on 07957-217639.


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From Cllr Barry Buitekant, Labour
Submitted by Janine on Thu, 18/05/2006 - 13:02.

First of all as a Haggerston councillor let me say that I warmly welcome the East London Line. The Haggerston area will have 3 new stations and will be one of the main benificaries of the line. As someone who was active in my unions campaign against the privatistaion of British Telecom I can appreciate why tube workers are against any form of privatisation. So of course following on from Labour Party policy I want the East London Line to be part of a publicly-owned LU.

Yours fraternally

Barry Buitekant

Councillor- Haggerston ward.


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From Cllr Mischa Borris, Green
Submitted by Janine on Thu, 18/05/2006 - 13:03.

The Green Party opposes rail privatisation. We believe in a publicly owned, publicly accountable, properly funded rail network. We support the East London Line Extension but do not support its privatisation.

Cllr. Mischa Borris


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From Cllr Shuja Shaikh, Conservative
Submitted by Janine on Thu, 18/05/2006 - 13:05.

Re. Privatisation of East London Line

It is my personal view and it may not be the view of my Party. I believe even within the Conservative Party there are many who have doubts about privatisation of the railways.

I believe that privatisation of public services on whole has been a great disaster. It is true that the public sector as created soon after 1945 needed tremendous amount of reforms.

Our experience of the last twenty years, particularly in rail transport, has shown that it has sucked in vast sums of money in terms of profits without any real benefit to the public.

The repeated railway accidents in which several lives were lost, poor maintainance of the tracks, price increases, cuts in staff and services and above all delays and cancellations have rendered the British railway services as perhaps the worst in the Western world.

I will write and speak against privatisation of the East London Line and give whatever other support I can.

Cllr.Shuja Shaikh


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From Cllr Matthew Coggins, Conservative
Submitted by Janine on Wed, 24/05/2006 - 19:03.

I cannot pretend to be an expert on transport policy and have not read much into the ELL extension.

My understanding is that those who have taken an interest in the ELL have always been aware that the line would not be run by TfL as part of the Underground network. I remember reading some time ago (certainly last year) that the line was to be run as part of Network Rail (or whatever it is called now). I believe that talk about Hackney getting a tube line has always been "spin" - but then we are used to that in these parts.

My perception is that service levels would be higher if the line were run by the Undergound, and if that is correct I would prefer it to be part of the Underground.

Matthew


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