Transport workers’ unions will come together in London on Monday, 31 January, 2011 at the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) to discuss the continuing liberalisation and privatisation of transport industries across Europe as a result of the policies of the European Union and the alternatives that our members are fighting for.

The European Commission recently ‘re-cast’ its First railway package, to establish “a single European railway area”, demanding complete liberalisation of the rail sector. A Fourth package liberalising domestic passenger rail services is planned for 2011.

The EU drive to privatise lifeline ferry services has led to protests to defend ferry services from Greece, to Corsica, to Caledonian MacBrayne services in Scotland.

Corporate takeovers, such as Germany state railway Deutsche Bahn’s acquisition of Arriva, are creating EU-wide transport monopolies across the bus, rail and light rail sectors. Instead of rebuilding public transport through investment in ‘just transition’ to carbon-neutral systems with skilled jobs, the EU is privatising public transport.

This conference will help to plan co-ordinated, Europe-wide resistance.

Speakers include Bob Crow (RMT), Steve Todd (RMT), Alex Gordon (RMT), Christian Joncret (CGT - France), Athos Eleftheriou (PEO - Cyprus), Jose Manuel Oliviera (SNTSF - Portugal), Hans-Gerd Öfinger (Germany).