Hackney residents have been campaigning for the Tube to come to the borough for years. We thought we were finally going to get on the Underground with the East London Line Extension. But now Transport for London has dashed those hopes by announcing that when the line is extended, it will be privatised. Support Hackney TUC's campaign to stop privatisation and bring a public London Underground line to Hackney.

To Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London,

We the undersigned welcome the fact that after many years the East London Line will be extended into Hackney. We are however appalled that Transport for London has decided that the extended East London Line should operate as a private train service.

This is despite the fact that the experience of rail privatisation has shown private companies:

• Put profit first, and compromise service!

• Do not maintain safety standards as seen in the fatal crashes!
• Provide dirty, overcrowded, unreliable trains!
• Have seen record-level complaints, fare hikes, demands for public subsidy
• Cut jobs and attack workers' rights

As Mayor you were elected to oppose Tube privatisation. We demand that the East London line continue to be operated by the London Underground; and services remain in the public sector.