Behind the technicalities involved in the dispute between the N.U.R. and the British Railways Board over liner trains there are clear issues which are of fundamental importance. Firstly, there is the fact that the B.R.B. plans for opening up the proposed terminals to private hauliers amount to a partial denationalisation measure. It was not so long ago that the Labour Party programme included the renationalisation of road haulage (this seems to have been quietly dropped) and the Government is indeed committed to bringing about an integrated transport system - yet it now supports the erosion of an established nationalised industry's role in transport, This, unhappily, is not an isolated incident; the sale of British Railways assets continues on many fronts. It seems that we have Beechingism without Beeching!
Secondly, the British Railways Board proposals amount to the almost complete subordination of the interests (and opinions) of the workers to those of ‘efficiency! and/or profitability. This again is a policy indistinguishable from the Tory attitude towards the nationalised industries - no wonder the whole capitalist press praised the Government for its "courage."
Rank and file trade unionists and Labour Party members must see this dispute as being of vital concern to them. If we are engaged in a struggle to extend social ownership with workers! self-management we cannot idly stand by while an existing nationalised industry is eroded and, what's more, the whole idea of the workers having a say in the running of industry gets a kick in the teeth. Obviously we must support the N.U.R. in its efforts to get the Government to change its mind on the liner train decision. Even from the point of view strengthening and defending the Labour Government's efforts to implement its pledges we must take actione In the coming months it is certain that the Labour Government will be involved in a tremendous struggle over the question of steel nationalisation, The Tories and their allies will use to the full the capitalist press to discredit the idea of nationalisation, What could be more important than the Labour Government having the full and enthusiastic support of workers in existing nationalised industries?
The N.U.R. is commencing its campaign on this dispute by organising a lobby of Parliament Thursday this week. The Week will publicise other activities as and when they are announced. Readers of this journal should support these activities and make the railwaymen's case widely known. A good start could be made by inviting N.U.R. speakers to address trade union branches, Labour Parties, and Young Socialist branches. .