WHAT IS THE MCNULTY
The McNulty report was commissioned by the
government to “improve value for money to
passengers and the taxpayer.”
But the report’s recommendations are a false economy
which will worsen services to passengers and short
change the taxpayer.
The McNulty review was commissioned by the last Government and continued by
the current Government to “improve value for money to passengers and the
taxpayer”.
The basic message from the McNulty report is that rail workers and passengers
are being asked to pay the price of rail privatisation. The multitude of private
competing interests who make up our fragmented industry are not only let off the
hook, but are given even more powers.
The report is far from independent. It is based on the same crack pot ideology that
led to the original privatisation of our railways. As such it is full of misinformation
and inaccuracies. For example the review ignores the fact that rail workers in
Britain are amongst the most productive in Europe. The most sensible solution to
the railways’ problems would be re-nationalisation yet the report hardly gives this a
mention. It even refuses to acknowledge that railways in Europe are cheaper for
the tax and fare payer because they are in the main more integrated and in the
public sector.
If the government implements the McNulty report, the railways will become even
more fragmented and complex with a significant shift of power to the privatised
train operators. Regional services will be under threat and fares, which are already
the most expensive in Europe, will become even less affordable.
And make no mistake, the McNulty review represents the biggest attack on rail
workers jobs, pay and conditions since privatisation. Every aspect of the McNulty
report will directly impact on the livelihood of rail workers. No grade will be left
unaffected and all grades will have to unite to defend pay and conditions.
At the moment the McNulty report is a recommendation to the Government. In the
autumn the Government will produce a rail policy White Paper which may reflect
some or all of the McNulty report.
In the months ahead, RMT will be highlighting the dangers of McNulty and
campaigning to defend jobs, conditions and the future of our railways. This
campaign will involve all members, the wider union movement, passengers and
communities.
This pamphlet gives you the facts to support that campaign.
Unity is strength
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary
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