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From The Socialist newspaper, 8 October 2014
Public sector: why we have to strike
Pickets in Hackney on the 10 July public sector strike, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Brian Debus, Chair, Hackney Unison (personal capacity)
The October week of action is not before time: we have all suffered under a massive onslaught of job cuts and pay cuts since this Con-Dem government of the rich for the rich came to power.
This is not to let Labour off the hook: it also presided over cuts to living standards when it was in power. It has also promised to stick to Tory spending plans.
Local government employers have just blinked with a measly increase on their original 1% pay offer.
This indicates a fear that workers will start to realise their potential power through this current wave of strike action for decent pay.
It is estimated that ordinary people - the working class - are on average £40 a week worse off than they were five years ago.
Contrast this to chief executives' pay: 45 times the average wage in 1998 and now 185 times.
In 2014 the richest 1,000 individuals combined wealth rose by 15.4%. So much for all being in this together.
This is a weak and divided government. While they squabble lets stand together united for a £1 an hour pay rise.
Talk to your workmates, if they have not yet joined the union get them to do so and make our strike that much stronger.
Better still join the picket line at your workplace and publicise this strike to the world.
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 8 October 2014:
Socialist Party news and analysis
We need ideas to change the world
UK - A tax haven for the super-rich
International socialist news and analysis
South Africa: "A workers' party must emerge"
Middle East: Repel IS and Western imperialism
Coordinated attacks on Hong Kong movement
Ebola crisis: Consequence of profit before health
Stop corporate plunder of Bangladesh energy
Socialist Party workplace news
Public sector: why we have to strike
RMT tube workers join October action
Teachers: Pay rise? What pay rise?
Sheffield: Green workers red with anger
M25 maintenance workers protest
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Training tomorrow's trade union militants
Finance to fight for the future
School students organise disabled rights meeting
Ice cream, you scream, we all scream for £10 now!
Readers' comments
Exhaustion from buzzer to buzzer
Bedroom Tax: Still making tenants' lives hell
Scotland: Workers need a new mass party
Correction: Labour's private health links are worse!
Obituary
Andrew Price: Fighter, teacher, party campaigner
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