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From The Socialist newspaper, 2 November 2016
Haringey care services face ruthless cuts and privatisation
The planned cuts will hit disabled people and their carers, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Paul Kershaw, Haringey and Enfield Socialist Party
Campaigners are demanding that Haringey's Labour council halts its programme of privatisation and cuts. After the cuts, the Ermine Road day centre will be the only council-run day centre for adults with learning disabilities left in the borough and the council plans to privatise it.
The council leadership sing the praises of 'alternative providers' but are currently facing legal action by local government union Unison because a company contracted to provide care on behalf of the council stands accused of paying care staff less than the national minimum wage. This represents outrageous exploitation of the workforce and potentially undermines care to some of the most vulnerable people in the borough.
The local Socialist Party has been campaigning and collecting signatures calling for a halt to all privatisation plans.
A Socialist Party member and Haringey care worker says: "Jeremy Corbyn has attracted enthusiastic support by opposing austerity and privatisation - people want an alternative. Haringey council undermines this movement with ruthless cuts and further privatisations."
Highest needs
Half of the current service users, mainly those in residential homes and 'supported living' accommodation - who tend to have the highest needs - will lose their council day centre places. Staff from their homes will be expected to provide their day service and their access into the community. Haringey council regard this as an expansion of day service provision!
Earlier in the year the council leadership disciplined Councillor Gideon Bull for speaking out. It's time for the local Labour movement to speak out and stop the council leadership ramming through the most brutal austerity measures.
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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.
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In The Socialist 2 November 2016:
What we think
Corbyn movement must seize initiative - or face defeat
Socialist Party news and analysis
Fight the 'burning' of our museums and libraries!
Battle of Orgreave: Establishment cover up continues
One third of 2010's new teachers have already quit
We are all Daniel Blake: no more deaths from benefit cuts
LGBT people need militancy, not false 'allies' like David Cameron
Refugee solidarity
Demolition of Calais 'Jungle' camp - eyewitness report
Socialist Party youth and students
Mass student strike rocks Spanish state
Glasgow School of Arts students "let us learn" revolt
International socialist news and analysis
EU-Canada trade deal battle points to Corbyn's Brexit opportunity
Environment and socialism
Heathrow expansion exposes Tory divisions
Socialist Party feature
Will workers on company boards make bosses accountable?
Workplace news and analysis
Sheffield bin workers' action strengthens in numbers and mood
Solid Southern strike continues against Britain's 'worst' train company
Newsquest strike: "It's impossible to do our jobs"
Outsourced ambulance workers strike in Tooting
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Glenfield heart unit closure: Over 1,000 march
Massive demo against A&E closure
Campaigners call on Greenwich council to oppose the Housing Act
Haringey care services face ruthless cuts and privatisation
Teaching assistants stage vigil and rally
"Our problems cannot be solved by capitalist politics"
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