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From The Socialist newspaper, 5 August 2020
'First you clap us then you slap us': hundreds march for NHS pay rise
Socialist Party placards at a protest of healthcare workers in London demanding a pay rise , photo Isai (Click to enlarge)
Isai Priya, Waltham Forest Socialist Party
Hundreds of nurses and healthcare workers marched from St Thomas' Hospital in south London to 10 Downing Street on 29 July, demanding a pay rise that's long overdue.
Homemade placards condemning the hypocrisy of the Tories were seen throughout the demo.
Socialist Party members pointed out the irony that the Tories came out every Thursday to clap for healthcare workers. Nothing could be more fake.
"First you clap us, then you slap us" and "Boris, we don't want your clap - we want our money back" were the loudest chants, repeated again and again.
NHS healthcare workers have been battling on the front line during this pandemic, putting their lives at risk, protecting the public and saving lives - 540 have died.
Many of these deaths could have been avoided if sufficient and adequate PPE had been available in good time. The Tory government's consistent failure to act during the pandemic is a well-known fact now.
These workers are not taking no for an answer and are determined to fight for their pay rise. The Socialist Party supports this fight, and says all key workers need a pay rise.
The Tories are bailing out multinational companies, banks and bosses to save the capitalist system. They are trying to make workers pay for the pandemic and economic crisis. We reject this.
To save our NHS, to fight for a pay increase, and to defend workers' rights and safety - the trade unions need to act now. We call for national union action for a 15% pay rise across the health service.
See also:
NHS pay - £15 for all now
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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.
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 5 August 2020:
News
From first wave to second? Capitalism's Covid failures
Capitalism's 'vaccine war' shows need for socialist cooperation
Tories' obesity plans - blaming individuals not the profit system
What we think
Labour payouts: unions must discuss political representation
Workplace news
Wales: GE Aviation workers march to save jobs
PCS union: Reject longer DWP opening hours
'First you clap us then you slap us': hundreds march for NHS pay rise
Sick pay victory at Homerton hospital!
Unite union branch pledges to support socialist candidates who oppose cuts
Oppose BT site closures - national strike ballot needed
No going back
What would socialist universities look like?
International
Cuba: Covid-19 and the 60-year-old embargo
Anniversary of nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
80 years since the murder of Leon Trotsky rally
Campaigns
A-level results day 2020: Fight for our future!
Fighting to end racism and capitalism
North London: Socialist Party speaks at BLM protest
Doncaster: Vigil for murdered women
Engage for Change Hull - trade union youth festival goes online
Campaign stalls on jobs, pay, NHS and racism
Why I joined - Covid changed my outlook
Socialist Party meetings: Online and in-person
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