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From The Socialist newspaper, 21 October 2020
Selling the Socialist: Local lockdowns only increase NHS anger
Coventry
Coventry (Click to enlarge)
On 17 October, the Socialist Party brought two campaign stalls to campaign to end hospital parking charges. One resident came over infuriated. He has to pay up every time he visits his mum dying of cancer.
Another signed as soon as we told him the money doesn't go back into the NHS. Private companies made £7 million profit off the people of Coventry and Warwickshire last year from hospital car parks. A healthcare assistant told us they used to tailgate to ensure they could get into work, because they could not afford the charge.
Adam Harmsworth
Waltham Forest, east London
People were angry. They were angry at the lack of support, sick pay, healthcare and jobs.
They were angry, and the Socialist Party reflected that anger and articulated a way out - proper sick pay, a programme of public works to create jobs, good jobs. Build council homes with rents workers can afford.
And come to our protest on 24 October, 1pm, Walthamstow Town Square.
We said if Boris Johnson is going to lock us up, he's going to have to pay up. That went down well.
Nancy Taaffe
Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire
You can meet the Socialist Party regularly campaigning in Waltham Cross. We call for a 15% pay rise for NHS workers. Each week the response is better and better. 17 October was the best yet.
When we said: "The government has refused to give NHS workers a pay rise, but MPs have given themselves a pay rise", the response more often than not was unprintable
Ian Pattison
Sheffield
Our best Saturday campaign stall since lockdown. And we met another three young people interested in joining the Socialist Party.
Alistair Tice
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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.
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 special coronavirus appeal.
In The Socialist 21 October 2020:
Lockdown
Health before profit - Work or full pay
Wales 'firebreak' lockdown fails to protect workers
Liverpool lockdown: suspicion and anger
Newcastle lockdown: stress and breakdowns
Leicester lockdown: disillusionment and anger
Unison
Why the Socialist Party is backing Hugo Pierre for Unison general secretary
International
Nigeria protests: 'This movement needs to fight the whole rotten capitalist system'
Horrific murder in Paris: fight intolerance and racism!
South Africa: Mass day of action for permanent jobs and a living wage
News
Tories reduce winter homeless funding: reverse the cuts,use the empty homes!
World capitalism's terrified strategists abandon austerity - for now
Coronavirus
Test and Trace U-turn on stopping local case reporting
Oxbridge gets private Covid tests: pool resources to test us all!
Millennials disillusioned with 'democracy'
Workplace
RMT: Programme to fight redundancies and cuts
Action on Covid transmission in schools now
FCC dismiss Unison activist Tony Smith
Optare workers strike over pay broken 'promise'
Solidarity with Deliveroo Couriers in York
Campaigns
Students: Give us our money back
Fight for your future at the online rally
Southampton: Coxford community condemns racist attack
Socialism 2020: Will you help our finance appeal?
Selling the Socialist: increase in NHS anger
Truth about Zane: Cover-up Tories crack
Kent: Chaotic privatised asylum process
Teignmouth hospital closure threat ... again!
Readers' opinion
Books that inspired me: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Beware the billionaires bearing gifts
Disabled students let down by "rotten education system"
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