30 / 181
22
Unions, and publish the first directory of such by the next bi-annual conference. Conference further
believes this is a first but necessary step in bringing some transparency and collective values to the
annual cycle of bargaining within the trade union movement.
Resolution 14
Public Ownership of the Railways
(1)
That this Conference recognises that the privatised railway has failed on all of the
measures claimed as the reasons for its existence:
•
Competition between train operators is virtually non-existent after franchises have been let;
•
Instead of cheaper services, passengers now have to pay the highest fares in Europe with a
real terms increase of at least 23% since 1995;
•
Far from reducing, annual subsidy to the industry now stands at £5.3 billion, over double
that received by British Rail
•
Genuine private sector capital only amounts to 1% of all rail investment, the rest being
underwritten by tax payers
•
Train operating companies together continue to extract significant profits amounting to over
£200 million a year, even when half of them receive subsidies for socially necessary services.
(2)
Instead of reforming the current system, however, successive governments have sought to
maintain it for politically dogmatic reasons whilst refusing to countenance public ownership despite
the success of East Coast Trains, taken into state ownership in 2009 upon the failure of the previous
franchise. East Coast Trains was commended by the Office of Rail Regulation as the most cost
effective train operator as it received virtually no subsidy and has returned over £800 million in
premium payments to the Treasury to date, more than any other operator. Despite the political
dogma, most passengers and workers want a rail network that works in the social, economic and
environmental interests of all citizens, not just those who want to turn a profit to line the pockets of
shareholders.
(3)
As such, Conference calls on the GFTU to support the work of affiliates, community groups
and passengers in campaigning for an alternative rail system that is both publicly owned and publicly
accountable in line with the vision created by the Transport for Quality of Life’s “Rebuilding Rail”
report.
Resolution 15
Supporting Affiliates
(1)
This BGCM recognises that both the British and Irish trade union movements are distinctive
in their organisation. Both have a combination of specialist trade unions organised around particular
trades and occupations and industrial groups within larger general unions.
(2)
The BGCM reaffirms the important role that the GFTU plays in complimenting the work of
the TUC by offering practical, educational, campaigning and other support for specialist unions and
groups within general unions. This BGCM further notes the great number of workers organisations
and associations not yet consolidated into trade unions and the tremendous potential that exists for