'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.

NHS pay - £15 for all now

Donate to the Socialist Party

Coronavirus crisis - 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.
Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
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.