United Left totally opposes the military coup against elected President Miguel d’Esocto and sends it support to the peoiple of Hondras at this difficult time. There can be no doubt that the forces of reaction moved to remove President Miguel d'Escoto because of his increasing support and involvement with the progressive association of Latin American countries which have formed ALBA (Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Brazil and almost all South American countries with the exception of Colombia). The military coup took place after the President called on the Honduras representative to the United Nations to speak in favor of the OUTCOME DOCUMENT, whose goal was the minimization if not elimination of neo-liberal power, the IMF and World Bank and its regional banks. This sent a strong message that Honduras was in support of a new powerful alliance of Latin American countries who would no longer be under the thumb of neo-imperialism.
The military coup is a dark reminder of the right wing forces still at force in the region, acting no doubt on the orders of global capital. It is only a few years ago that Venezuela's democratically elected Hugo Chavas was deposed in a US backed right win coup, but was swiflty restored to power within days on the back of a popular uprising. All progressive forces must join in condemning this unacceptable use of military force to quell the democratic mandate. United Left calls for President Miguel d'Escoto's reinstatement to power immediatley and for the criminals behind the couip to bebrought to justice.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
National Express
United Left welcomes the decision to take the GNER rail franchise back into public ownership following National Express defaulting on the contract. United Left supports the rail unions (RMT, ASLEF and TSSA, backed by TUC) campaign to bring rail back under public ownership where it belongs and reverse 15 years of expensive privatisation failure.
When Britsh Rail was privatised in 1994, the national state subsidy was £1B compared to around £5B today. In a desperate attempt to reduce the spiralling cost of a privatised rail system, the Labour Government took the cap off fares and encouraged the private train operators to outbid each other for the rail franchises on very generous terms, recouping huge profits in the good times of the backs of passengers, but able to walk away when it suits. On a string of other contracts the Government is having to subsidise train operators instead of receive payback under clauses designed to offload the risk onto the Government. Already the Government is preparing to scale back much needed capital investment due to the crisis.
This is not the first time a rail franchise ended up in public hands. When failed privateer Connex was stripped of its franchise for South East Trains, the publicly owned operation improved reliability and generated passenger growth due to improved service quality. Regrettably the Labour Government insisted on refranchising South East Trains, becuase of its neo-liberal commitment to the mantra "if it's private it must be better".
United Left calls for the GNER operation to remain in public hands, and for the other rail franchises to transfer back to the public sector as their contract terms expire. This would be a cost-free renationalisation, which end the massive leachin goff revenues out of the industry into the profits of the privatised companies, and give us the investment to rebuild a safe publicly owned railway fit for the challenges of the 21st century.
Note 1; French SNCF rail network is widely regarded as the most advanced in Europe. It is nationally owned.
Note 2; New Zealand renationlised its railways following its own expensive experiment with privatisation http://www.itfglobal.org/railways/unionreports-issue8.cfm
When Britsh Rail was privatised in 1994, the national state subsidy was £1B compared to around £5B today. In a desperate attempt to reduce the spiralling cost of a privatised rail system, the Labour Government took the cap off fares and encouraged the private train operators to outbid each other for the rail franchises on very generous terms, recouping huge profits in the good times of the backs of passengers, but able to walk away when it suits. On a string of other contracts the Government is having to subsidise train operators instead of receive payback under clauses designed to offload the risk onto the Government. Already the Government is preparing to scale back much needed capital investment due to the crisis.
This is not the first time a rail franchise ended up in public hands. When failed privateer Connex was stripped of its franchise for South East Trains, the publicly owned operation improved reliability and generated passenger growth due to improved service quality. Regrettably the Labour Government insisted on refranchising South East Trains, becuase of its neo-liberal commitment to the mantra "if it's private it must be better".
United Left calls for the GNER operation to remain in public hands, and for the other rail franchises to transfer back to the public sector as their contract terms expire. This would be a cost-free renationalisation, which end the massive leachin goff revenues out of the industry into the profits of the privatised companies, and give us the investment to rebuild a safe publicly owned railway fit for the challenges of the 21st century.
Note 1; French SNCF rail network is widely regarded as the most advanced in Europe. It is nationally owned.
Note 2; New Zealand renationlised its railways following its own expensive experiment with privatisation http://www.itfglobal.org/railways/unionreports-issue8.cfm
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