I am writing to remind you of the forthcoming demonstration to protest at the privatisation of the East London Line.

As you will be aware the union has been fighting proposals to privatise the East London Line.

The London Underground East London Line is to close for refurbishment on 22nd December and once reopened in 2010 its operations are to be handed to private operator MTR Laing as part of the new The expanded London Overground franchise which began running last week.

The demonstration has been called to protest at the death of the public service ethos on the East London Line. For the first time for more than seven decades the passenger operations of part of the world’s most successful metro system are to be handed to an organisation for which profit comes first.

It is vital that we take a stand against any creeping privatisation of Tube operations. Even more so following reports this week that Crossrail, which as you know will have connection with existing London Underground Lines and stations, will be operated by private company, when there is no reason why it cannot be operated in the public sector.

The demonstration is important to all grades working on London Underground and the Mainline Railways.

This is because the Privateer consortium MTR-Laing, which took over the franchise from National Express on Sunday to run the new London Overground franchise was invited to bid on the basis of operating driver-only operated trains on the North and West London lines from December 2011. RMT exposed the secret plan earlier this year after the union obtained the invitation to tender for the London Overground under freedom of information laws

Giving MTR-Laing a free hand to remove guards from busy commuter trains just in time for the Olympics is a further attack on Guards and the demonstration will also be challenging TfL to assure us that it will not happen

Please mobilise for 13th December and bring your flags and banners.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
RMT General Secretary