Cameron's Big Society Transport Plans Risk Public Safety

Transport union RMT, warned last week that thousands of jobs are under threat from David Cameron’s “Big Society” programme as the Isle of Wight became the first area to use the threat of bus service cuts to replace paid staff with volunteers - a move which the union warns could now be rolled out across the country.

This weekend, the RMT's position was evidenced by a news item in the Daily Telegraph, the link to which is on the left.

The article entitled, Volunteers Save Bus Services, indicates exactly what the so-called 'Big Society' is all about, companies making even more profit form their workforce but not actually paying them! The by-line also betrays this fact:

' Volunteer drivers are being taken on to save eight threatened bus services, which would otherwise have been shut down because of spending cuts.'

Whilst the article reports that the bus company taking over is Southern Vectis, it also makes it clear that the local Tory controlled council had agreed to cut funding of council run bus services, putting all of their employed bus drivers out of work.

This would mean that the local bus services would cease to provide what is a life-line for isolated communities, those unable to drive, the disabled, the elderly and the young.

Of course there is no mention of the bus services being free to the public! This then maximises the profit for the council and bus company with whom they the local authority has done the deal.

Interestingly, the article does not mention anywhere concerns for public safety, nor is there mention of the issue of insurance or the personal liability of those volunteering to drive the buses. It also brings into question the remit of the Health & Safety Executive and local authorities, in the event of an accident causing injury or death. Given the drivers of these buses are volunteers, and that the government wishes to remove health & safety protection from members of the public and destroy it as far as protecting those at work; the situation will no doubt end up being tested in court. Meanwhile, both volunteers and the paying passengers are at risk.

Wight Bus service had been due to be closed at the end of August as part of a £280,000 transport cuts package bulldozed through by the Conservative-led authority, now, in a move described by RMT as “deeply suspect, cynical and opportunist” they have found the money to set up a volunteer, “Big Society” operation under the umbrella of Southern Vectis.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“We have no doubt that the Isle of Wight has been chosen in a deeply suspect, cynical and opportunist fashion as a pilot for a Big Society drive to replace paid bus workers with unpaid volunteers.

“David Cameron has repeatedly denied that the Big Society is about dumping paid staff and replacing them with unpaid volunteers and yet that is exactly what is happening on the Isle of Wight buses in what we believe is nothing more than a testing ground for a policy ready for roll-out across the rest of the country. David Cameron has been caught lying to the British people about the true nature of his Big Society con trick.

“We know that bus services are under increasing attack from ConDem austerity cuts the length and breadth of the country and we now have the clearest evidence that the Big Society will be used as a battering ram to replace skilled and experienced staff with ad-hoc volunteers putting thousands of jobs at risk.

“RMT will fight this attack on bus services, and bus staff, with every tool at our disposal.”

For those in doubt of this being a deliberate government policy behind the so-called 'Big Society', the article ends as follows:

Norman Baker, the local transport minister, backed the scheme. “Where commercial bus services are not viable, Community Transport can play a valuable role in preventing isolation.

We provided £10m earlier this year for schemes like this where local authorities, operators and local communities work together to provide more flexible bus services – the Isle of Wight themselves received over £48,000.

The important thing is that passengers are able to get from A to B. It is not for us in Westminster to decide how Local Authorities provide services – they are best placed to make decisions based on the needs of their local area.”

Source: RMT / Daily Telegraph

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