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From The Socialist newspaper, 4 November 2020
Furloughed worker speaks out: Let down by insecure contracts
photo Creative Commons Zero - CC0 (Click to enlarge)
I was working when lockdown was announced. We turned up the volume on the telly, put the subtitles on and everyone went quiet.
After the announcement one lad went on a break, had a good cry and came back with his Halloween make-up running everywhere. It is just the stress of it all - it has broken people down and they feel like they can't do this anymore.
I missed out on furlough by two days last time. I had a cleaning job in a beauty spa, but because I was two days from my first pay cheque, I missed out.
Revenue and Customs refused to accept my employment contract as evidence. This time I am a few weeks into a four-week contract. I could be furloughed for a week and then laid off.
Fortunately, my manager told me that she will extend my contract so I can be on furlough. But people shouldn't have to rely on that.
Many individual managers are trying to do the right thing. They have the weight of twenty-odd people, the weight of their staff's livelihoods and their own on top of them.
Some of my colleagues have been considering setting up a temporary ride-share, informal taxi service. They can't afford a 20% pay cut. No one should be in that position, forced to put themselves at risk, just to make ends meet.
Mental health is my main concern. If I spend another month inside and not working I'm concerned how I will be able to stay positive.
James, bar worker
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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 4 November 2020:
What we think
Our lives, our jobs - not safe in Tory hands
Corbyn suspended - Time to fight for a new mass workers' party
Socialism 2020: Mass workers' voice needed
Unison
Why the Socialist Party is backing Hugo Pierre for Unison general secretary
News
A lockdown that doesn't include education?
Testing is failing - it's a privatised mess
Furloughed worker speaks out: Let down by insecure contracts
Workplace
Transport for London given funding stop gap
Usdaw needs a fighting leadership
Birmingham NHS porters' 48-hour strike against shift changes
Optare strikers escalate their action
International news
Chile: A defeat for the right!
Poland: Mass protests against abortion ban
Campaigns
Save St Andrews mental health ward
Leeds protesters demand "Buhari must go!"
Building Bangor Socialist Students
Maybe now they will listen - Refund the fees!
Donate now to the Socialism 2020 appeal
Corbyn suspended: Join the fightback, join the socialists
Readers' opinion
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