Millions robbed by greedy bosses

Come to the Rally for Socialism 2014

Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, Socialism 2014 organising team

Five million low paid workers are robbed every day (Click to enlarge)

Stop thief! Five million robbed every day! It's organised crime.

How else can you describe a situation where workers toil - but still struggle to pay the bills, put food on the table, and clothe themselves and their children adequately? The latest figures show five million workers are on poverty wages.

We know who the crooks are. Big business fat cat bosses: the super-rich 1% who keep the luxury goods market booming and hold millions of workers in poverty.

Expenses scandal politicians around the world roll out the red carpet for these capitalist thieves. Care UK workers are striking to stop the theft of 35% of their wages. The boss of the private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital that owns Care UK was recently made a peer.

No wonder in the US a poll found that the millionaire politicians, vital accessories to the low pay crime, are less popular than head lice. Here, Tories, Labour, Lib Dems and Ukip tell us that they're helpless to take effective action - like implementing the Socialist Party demand for a £10 an hour minimum wage now. That could start to allow workers some dignity in their lives.

So it is refreshing that Russell Brand has spoken out. But we also need ideas and organisations to change the world.

Ideas

When Kshama Sawant was elected as a socialist councillor in Seattle last November, many of her 93,000 votes were in support of the demand for a $15 an hour minimum wage - linked to socialist change. Once elected, she and her party - Socialist Alternative, co-thinkers of the Socialist Party - worked tirelessly to build a powerful and ultimately successful fight for $15.

In Seattle, a city the size of Glasgow, 100,000 workers will be lifted out of poverty. For a change, the 1% pay - $3 billion will be transferred from the bosses to the lowest paid. Pro-capitalist politicians may bemoan falling wages, rising inequality, stagnating economies - but they have no solution. Socialists do!

Kshama will be a keynote speaker at the Saturday rally of Socialism 2014 (see below). Like the rest of the weekend, it will provide bucket-loads of ideas and inspiration for the much needed fightback - or your money back!

Socialism 2014

Kshama Sawant won't be the only impressive speaker on the platform at the Socialism 2014 rally on Saturday 8 November.

As the Socialist marks its 50th year, Socialist Party general secretary PETER TAAFFE argues that the lessons of these decades prove the working class is the most powerful force for the change we need.

RUTH COPPINGER, newly elected Socialist Party TD (MP) in Dublin, is a leader of the developing mass non-payment movement against Ireland's water tax.

IAN HODSON is president of bakers' union BFAWU, which has successfully defeated hated zero-hour contracts in Hovis in Wigan.

BRIAN SMITH (personal capacity) is secretary of Glasgow Unison, and will bring a taste of Scotland's electoral uprising - when the working class and youth used the independence vote to fight austerity.

MARK SERWOTKA has just been re-elected as the general secretary of civil service union PCS, which has been to the fore of the fight against government cuts.

Rally for Socialism, Saturday 8 November at 6.30pm, Camden Centre, Judd Street, London WC1H 9JE.Public transport: King's Cross St Pancras.

Tickets from £5, call 020 8988 8777 or visit www.socialism2014.net - where you can also find details of the workshops, rallies and forums, as well as venue, transport, crèche (book by 3 November) and more.

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Finance appeal

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.