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When Coventry Socialist Party was campaigning to scrap hospital parking charges, NHS workers told us how much they had to pay – £40 a month to park at their own workplace, with no guarantee of a space. Our campaign stall was busy the whole time.

Health workers told us the charge, along with their low pay, is “disgusting and disgraceful”. We agree.

Just a month ago, the government said these workers are heroes. Now staff, patients and visitors are paying a private company that makes millions of pounds, for what should be a free health service.

We say:

  • Scrap parking charges
  • Cancel PFI privatisation
  • Integrate hospital car parks into the rest of the NHS, under democratic workers’ control

York: U-turn Tories could cave on NHS pay

Our 26 August campaign stall, for a pay rise for NHS and care workers, was busy. People agreed that this should be the start of pay rises across the board for workers. They supported our call to increase the minimum wage to £12 an hour.

A few people who signed the petition felt resigned to the government running the NHS into the ground and privatising it further – as it has with track and trace during this crisis. They asked: “How can we force them back?”

We pointed to the U-turn on student grades. Young Socialists helped initiate that struggle, calling a day of action, including here in York. People bought a copy of the Socialist after hearing that, to read the cover story on that issue (see ‘Students 2, Tories 0: Protest works atsocialistparty.org.uk).

In York, the Socialist Party is working with NHS workers to build for more protests for a pay rise. Let’s force the Tories into another U-turn, just like the students did.

Iain Dalton

Liverpool: NHS privatisation and care home closure

On our campaign stall, people stopped to talk about a pay increase for NHS staff, and ending privatisation and the closure of Liverpool care homes. It’s an attack on the staff and a strain on elderly residents.

All care homes need to be brought under public ownership with democratic control and management by the workers. The Labour council in Liverpool must take up this fight, say no more cuts, and reverse cuts already being made.

It is great to see a lot more young people coming to our stall.

Carlisle: More jobs and better pay for NHS

Our Socialist Party campaign stall, for more jobs and a pay rise in the NHS, got a really good response in Whitehaven on 15 August. Even more NHS workers took extra leaflets for workmates or are sending them on social media.

We couldn’t have spoken to more people, with folk patiently queuing and staying for longer conversations. We learnt more about the conditions staff are working under, and the difficulties facing them, due to lack of resources across the board.

Brent Kennedy