Model motion

This is a model motion that can be adapted for union branches and other organisations. Please let us know how you get on with it, or if you would like a guest speaker for your meeting.

Fare-Free Public Transport in Greater Manchester

This [insert type of body e.g. branch] notes that:

  1. Greater Manchester already has some fare-free public transport: two fare-free bus services in the city centre; and many young, old and disabled people, along with many public transport workers, already have some fare-free travel; and
  2. Many cities around the world, from the USA to Luxemburg and Brazil to Ukraine have fare-free public transport.

This [insert type of body e.g. branch] believes that fare-free public transport in Greater Manchester would:

  1. Make public transport simpler and more attractive to use;
  2. Reduce traffic congestion;
  3. Help tackle the cost of living crisis;
  4. Reduce inequality, social exclusion, isolation and loneliness, and in the long term improve health;
  5. Improve accessibility;
  6. Make a major contribution to reducing the CO2 contribution to climate change, reduce air pollution and ticket litter;
  7. Remove a structural cause of conflict between transport workers and the public which sometimes results in verbal abuse, threats, and violence towards workers and the public;
  8. Allow resources to be redirected from ticketing and enforcement to more services, better customer service and accessibility;
  9. Lead to an increase in patronage which could make an expansion of services and increased frequency viable; and
  10. Benefit the night-time economy.

This [insert type of body e.g. branch] resolves to:

  1. Support steps towards universal fare-free public transport which protect jobs and services, for example, an expansion of fare-free services, wider eligibility for fare-free travel, or workers gaining travel passes from their employer.
  2. Support the Fare Free Greater Manchester campaign by:
    • Adding our name to the list of supporting organisations;
    • Making a donation to campaign costs;
    • Circulating updates from the campaign to members; and
    • Encouraging members to get involved in the campaign;
  3. Encourage the inclusion of demands for travel passes in pay claims;
  4. Publicise the growing international movement for fare-free public transport;
  5. Call on political parties, candidates, local and national government to support fare-free public transport; and
  6. Submit motions through our union structures and the wider labour movement to set policy in favour of fare-free public transport and to support campaigns for it.