Quality of Life for All Public Transport

Quality of Life for All

Public Transport – Towards a Sustainable Mobility

Ecological Sustainability Economical Sustainability Social Sustainability What can we contribute? Politics change Sector changes To Do at ETF level To Do at Trade Union Level

1. Ecological Sustainability § Climate Change is man-made. We have ~10 years to avoid the worst effects. § Until 2099: Temperature will rise +3 to +8°C § Major source of increase in CO 2 emissions: Transport +69%.

Public Transport is at the Core of Ecological Sustainability in cities: Increasing Public Transport could … § attract +5% bus passengers § +10% railway passengers § -0, 9% car use § -0, 4% greenhouse gas emissions. § Job growth in Public Transport (AUT: -1400 jobs/year) Not much? § Speed limits of 80/100 km/h: -12% greenhouse gas emissions!

What can we contribute? The major factors are not in our hands: § Regional Structure (housing, shopping centres, business) § Urbanisation and car use § pricing of city car space (parking, city toll) Politics is also in our hands: § We are not only responsible for our workplaces, but also for our sector: Engage in Politics

Economic Sustainability Financial situation of the public sector: § generally worsening due to tax competition Financial situation of the public transport sector: § fair for state-owned public transport companies (EU-15) § fair to bad for private public transport companies § profit margin <5% in British bus industry § Sweden since competition: -267 Mio SEK deficit § bad to very bad for state-owned pt companies (NAC) Restructuring in Public Transport sector: § < 6 large multinational companies, § some large integrated public companies remaining in Metropolises § Many, many very little operators in niches

What can we contribute? Tax competition is done by governments: § Lobbying for minimum company taxes § EU lobbying for an end to unanimity in tax issues Competition between operators is done by public authorities: § Lobbying against competition in Public Transport § Lobbying for quality and social standards in public tenders Our response to restructuring? § organise Multinationals § keep strongholds in public companies § … thereby setting standards to protect conditions in SME

Social Sustainability 1) Transport is unfair to users: § Unfair access: Those who can‘t afford a car, loose opportunities:

Social Sustainability 1) Transport is unfair to users: § Unfair access: Those who can‘t afford a car, loose opportunities: § Unfair burden of consequences: Externalities mostly hurt the already marginalized: poor, disabled, elderly, children § Private car is over-privileged: Who has a car, has more chances to find a job, to buy cheaper goods, to entertainment, leisure, nature. „Poor transport can […] reinforce social exclusion“ (UK Government‘s Social Exclusion Unit)

Social Sustainability 2) EU transport policy is unfair to public transport workers § PSO directive (by 2009): § compulsory tendering in regional bus services § direct award in railway and inhouse awards with strict conditions § state-owned companies also take on competition-like behaviour § Railway packages: -600. 000 jobs in the last 12 -15 years § Sector restructuring: § worse wages, worse working conditions, less jobs

Times, they are changin‘ (Bob Dylan) Politics change We have to change: § § intensified ETF lobbying § intensified national lobbying § Social partnership needs a The conditions which form our workplaces, are moved far outside the companies: § EU politics strategy and has to be § national liberalisation § Politics is done by lobbying § limited scope of social partnership § „networks and partners“ § resources count § less democratic accountability accompanied by pressure § Team up in networks § Take part in ETF lobbying and pay ETF fees § develop pressure

Times, they are changin‘ Sector changes We have to change : § More and more public tendering § § In direct award: less and less subsidy available (Bob Dylan) § lobby public authorities, linked with industrial action § maintain public „safe Market structure concentrates havens“ § larger public transport networks § tender quality and social standards § less & bigger Multinationals § European Works Councils § more & more complex company relations § training + sharing experience on § restructuring of public companies restructuring and outsourcing

To Do at ETF level § Research & Training: § § § How to implement quality and social standards into tendering How to campaign for these standards Strategy building: § § Coordinated Lobbying: § § Example: Protection on transfer of ownership (cross-sectoral) Networking: § § How to achieve results in a worsening political environment Multinational corporations and their practices Social Dialogue § develop strategies and prepare pressure

To Do at Trade Union Level § Research, Training, Recruiting: § § § set up campaigning structures recruit rank & file members for European activity Lobbying: § against further national liberalisation § against tenders without quality and social standards § lobby EU members (MEPs, Government Council) in concert with ETF lobbying § Networking: § § Team up European Works Councils of Multinationals EU-Social Dialogue § prepare for pressure at EU level

A final remark § How did you come to this conference? § What for are you here? § This conference emitted approx. 100 people x 2500 km flight = 400 x 100 kg CO 2 = 40. 000 kg CO 2. § If we don‘t set up anything which saves more emissions than this, then we have damaged the world just by talking.