FOLLOWING the decision of the Law Lords that the Labour GLC's fares policy is illegal, London Transport's 35,000 workers are considering strike action. The unions involved are backing the call from GLC councillors Ken Livingstone and Valerie Wise for 'all-out industrial and political action to defy the Lords.'
London Transport workers are responding to the doubling of fares, huge cuts in services and the loss of 5,000 jobs. The Tories have no intention of resolving the mess their friends in high places have placed the working people of London in.
David Howell, Minister of Transport has, in the words of Ken Livingstone, 'Given with one hand and taken with the other' when he announced that he would repay £61m of the £110m penalty which he imposed on the London rate support grant.
Where has the other £40m gone? The transport unions should now organise with the GLC, Labour Parties, other trade unions and consumer organisations to openly defy the Law Lords.
Up in the West Midlands
THE Labour West Midlands County Council will put up fares by 70 per cent as a result of the decision. The flat rate 2p charge for children and the plan to introduce concessionary fares for the unemployed will now be scrapped. The Tories must be laughing themselves sick...
But in South Yorkshire
AT a mass meeting in South Yorkshire, transport workers on Monday. 1,400 transport workers voted to come out on 25 January. This is the day designated as a one day protest stoppage against government policies.
The bus workers will be out because the Law Lords ruling may result in the loss of 1,500 jobs in South Yorkshire.
As the leaflet calling the bus workers to the meeting stated: 'This is probably the most important meeting you are asked to attend. As a bus worker it may be your last.'