We Own It News Today

CAMPAIGNERS have renewed calls to end privateer Serco’s chaotic management of test and trace, with Friday marking one year since England’s system began. Public ownership group We Own It branded the outsourcing giant, one of the many private companies operating the system along with call centre firm Sitel, “disastrous” and alleged that the decision to put the company in charge had “put lives needlessly at risk.” Serco’s contract had been due to expire on May 17, however, the Depar...

UNIONS and campaigners criticised the government’s long-awaited rail reforms as “deeply disappointing” yesterday, saying they amount to little more than rearranging the deckchairs of privatisation. Control of trains and tracks will be vested in a new public-sector body called Great British Railways (GBR), the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. The organisation will own and manage rail infrastructure, issue contracts to private firms to run trains, set most fares and timetables...