E.U Hands Off Our Railways Campaign

[Frazzel]

From The Morning Star :
Delegates from transport unions across Europe gathered at the headquarters of the International Transport Federation last week to discuss opposition to EU-led privatisation of railways. It was agreed its time to campaign against various EU directives that force rail networks into private sector with devasting consequences.
RMT gen sec Bob Crwo said that Irish voters had clearly expressed the opinion of millions of Europeans who did not want privatisation of public services and attacks on workers rights.
'he Lisbon treaty like the rail directives, was designed to benefit big business that sees essential sevices as cash cows to exploit in the pursuit of profits.'He said.
Delegates from several countries discussed strategies to oppose privatisation and fragmentation following the disastrous EU model first carried out in Britian over 10 years ago.
The drive to privatise rail networks across Europe is rooted in the EU directive 91/440/EEc, which demands a division between train operations and infrastructure, the break-up of public monopolies and introduction of market mechanisms. This threatens safety, pay, conditions and collective bargaining.
Steve McGiffen from www.spectrezine.org said the Lisbon treaty and various rail directives undermined democracy across Europe.
John Hendy QC outlined why recent judgements by the European Court of Justice undermined trade union rights as they consistently rule in favour of big business over the rights of trade unions, needing 'a massive Europe wide campaign to reverse the decisions of the ECJ.'
Kelvin Hopkins MP rejected claims that opponents of EU diktats were 'right-wing' (editors note: such a smear/disinfo tactic is no surprise to us 911 ers)
'The left has led the 'no' votes in Europe and is leading the campaign to defend public services under threat from EU rules' he said.
European Transport Workers Federation gen sec Eduardo Chagas said that ETF had already rolled back plans to 'liberalise' docks across the EU by mobilising over 10,000 dockers to protest in Brussels which led to a rejection of the proposals.
The conference agreed a statement calling for a European wide demonstration before the end of the year against the EU directives.