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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1117/31863
From The Socialist newspaper, 20 January 2021
British Gas strike continues
Leicester picket line of British Gas engineers, striking for five days to maintain their present working conditions and pay, 8 January 2021, photo Leicester SP (Click to enlarge)
British Gas engineers in the GMB union have announced seven new strike dates, for 24 hours each day, on 20, 22, 25, 29, 30, 31 January and 1 February. The workers have been out on strike for five days so far against massive attacks on their pay and terms and conditions.
These include an increase in working hours for no extra pay. This is in addition to driving time to customers' homes at the start of the day, and back at the end, being excluded from working hours, plus attacks on holidays and rota systems, and more.
Leicester Socialist Party members have been on the physical picket line on Aylestone Road showing solidarity.
The holding company for British Gas, Centrica, made £901 million in profits last year. The Socialist Party campaigns for renationalisation of the industry, with democratic workers' control, so that this kind of profiteering management can be removed.
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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.
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 20 January 2021:
News
Make the super-rich pay, not the poorest
Bosses profit out of 'starvation' food parcels
Teachers: On the front line, in their own words
Peace and Justice Project - no way forward for socialism
Millionaire tendency regains control of Scottish Labour
Covid-19
The Tory blame game: scapegoating the working class - 100% pay for all now
Covid: Bosses chase profit and put workers in danger
Vaccine confidence - a worker's response
Life in lockdown - being home from school when you're poor is hard
NHS
Black Lives Matter
Police use Covid laws to intimidate BLM protesters
New Cross Gate fire 40 years ago
International News
USA in crisis - the need for a socialist alternative
Trump Twitter ban: only independent workers' voice can defeat right
Workplace
PCS Broad Left Network conference
Rolls-Royce Barnoldswick factory future secured following strike action
Morrisons - £10/hr headline hides divisive pay offer
A day in the life of an agency worker
Students
Plymouth rent strike continues
Scrap fees, refund rents and pay a living grant
Campaigns
London's May elections: Tories and Labour's Khan both vying to slash public services
Socialist Party national women's meeting
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Christmas Crossword Competition
Readers' Opinion
Books that inspired me: The Road to Wigan Pier
Obituary
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