Labour’s Tory benefits bill
Disabled Socialist Party member in South Yorkshire
A reliable source has revealed how the recent Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill came into being.
A think tank, the Resolution Foundation, was aided by a trailblazer in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Disabled people were asked questions under the guise of ‘helping’, answers were selected to fit the narrative and served as evidence contributing to the Tories’ Get Britain Working white paper.
The Pathways to Work green paper was created based on those policies and ultimately created the despicable Bill that exists today – including a two-tier disability benefits system, with massive cuts to welfare. They really should rename their party, Labour and Conservatives Together, it would be more appropriate.
One person in particular did an ‘outstanding’ job throughout, the previous chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, commissioner to the Get Britain Working white paper which contributed to the Pathways to Work green paper, and a supporting signature to the Bill as it originally stood – Torsten Bell MP. That same person knows too well the implications of creating poverty by policy, he is a Labour MP holding a ministerial position, and was previously the director and trustee of the Child Poverty Action Group charity. Congratulations Torsten Bell MP, seriously lacking moral fibre.
These capitalist policies only create poverty by policy and loss of life. We know from our own history, when we defeated the Tories’ Poll Tax, that when the working class is targeted as one, the government and wealthy elite do not succeed.
Sadly, history shows the loss of community spirit, with the closure of the mining industry and the loss of community groups, the colliery football teams and brass bands, and a breakdown of solidarity, has made it easier for the government to try to split us into smaller groups, therefore easier to financially target.
If the working class does not unite and reject capitalist policies and propaganda, we will continue to allow the already wealthy to profit from the poverty policies created. It will be working-class people who suffer – pensioners, disabled people, children, workers… Divide and conquer seems to be the strategy used now.
Hospitality workers on the rise!
John Williams
I thoroughly enjoyed my first Unite Policy Conference (see ‘Unite: Labour attack on bin workers opens up debate on union’s political strategy’ at socialistparty.org.uk), and was blown away by the wide range of speakers representing different layers of the working class. In particular, I was inspired by the confidence of first-time delegates and speakers – which included a whole new layer of hospitality workers – mainly young people. Hospitality workers made a real impact and there was a feeling that workers in the industry are on the rise.
Unite members have been winning in the hospitality industry. Workers at the Glasgow Theatre Company successfully campaigned for the removal of Coca-Cola products due to concerns about the company’s operations in Israeli settlements.
The general secretary’s speech gave full support to the upcoming Village Hotel Strike. The company’s bosses were described as “Right bastards to work for” by an ex-employee. The strike will mark the first time since 1979 that workers at a major hotel have taken this type of action. It was a 81% turnout with 100% voting to strike. They’re fighting for better pay – many workers are on as little as £10 an hour, and they don’t even get paid breaks. But, as one delegate said, “No workplace is unorganisable”.
There were two motions on hospitality. One on supporting Unite Hospitality’s ten-point charter for the industry and one on collective bargaining. I made the point that a lot of the ten-point charter was already in Labour’s new deal for workers, until Keir Starmer watered it down considerably.
Gone is the trade union policy for a £15-an-hour living wage with no age restrictions. Zero-hour contracts aren’t being banned as workers will be forced to sign flexible contracts. Fire and rehire will still be allowed if companies ‘need’ to restructure the business. Trade unions will be allowed access to workplaces ‘where reasonable’.
I also made the point that we need to root out conservative and pessimistic attitudes within the union that it’s pointless trying to organise precarious workers. Yes, it’s hard, but we’re building the future. Several speakers pointed to the fact that all you need to do is speak to hospitality workers on unions and they’d be surprised at the positive response. It’s not that they don’t care or don’t have it in them – it’s just that most of them haven’t even been asked in the first place.
I felt completely optimistic after the conference. I believe when hospitality workers, not just in the UK but around the world, are organised, the entire world will shake. So, lets get on with it!
