{"id":6006,"date":"2015-09-29T11:33:28","date_gmt":"2015-09-29T10:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=6006"},"modified":"2015-09-30T11:23:18","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T10:23:18","slug":"this-country-cant-run-without-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=6006","title":{"rendered":"‘This country can’t run without us’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unite Executive Council member and a bus worker James Mitchell spoke today (September 29) at the Labour Party conference on the Living Standards and Sustainability report regarding\u00c2\u00a0transport and the issue of buses.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bI am a London bus worker,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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Unite has a long and proud record of representing transport workers and making the case for high quality transport and for public transport.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bMargaret Thatcher was said to have declared that, \u00e2\u20ac\u0098If you are a young man of 26 and still riding a bus, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a loser\u00e2\u20ac\u2122,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWell at 51 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still going strong and proud of it,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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Buses are the most frequently used and the most democratic form of public transport.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThey are the lifelines of our communities,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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But there have been 2,000 bus routes cut since 2010 and nearly 500 services cut in the last year alone.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe need more public ownership and accountability,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bPrivatisation and deregulation is not the answer. It was Labour Mayor that changed things in London but under Boris Johnson public transport has been attacked,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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James made reference to Sadiq Khan, recently appointed London Labour Mayoral candidate.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOn the positive side, I am sure that the next Labour Mayor of London \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Sadiq Khan, the son of a bus driver \u00e2\u20ac\u201c will change it again,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAs a bus worker myself I know first-hand the disaster of privatisation and deregulation in the bus industry,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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Unite represents 90,000 bus workers. They have been at the forefront of trying to repair the damage caused by bus deregulation.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe need an integrated network of properly regulated bus services, run for the benefit of passengers, not for excess profits,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd we will be at the forefront of challenging any threats to bus services that may be in the forthcoming Buses Bill,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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Unite will also be campaigning for proper TUPE protection for bus workers affected by the tendering process.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Quality Contracts\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 give local authorities the power to determine service delivery, set affordable fares and stipulate decent terms and conditions, as well as pensions, for bus workers.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is shameful that operators are against this,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bA transport policy based on market forces cannot meet the national public interest. We need to end the cuts to bus services,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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James finished by talking about what the next Labour government must do ensure our transport system is safe and its workforce valued.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe need a Labour government to deliver a strong, integrated and sustainable transport strategy that recognises the importance of transport and the value of transport workers to society, to the economy and to the environment,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 said James.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBecause this country can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t run without us,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he added.<\/p>\n

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Watch James’ full speech in the video below:<\/p>\n

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