
The Socialist 20 May 2020
Rich get handouts - workers get pay cuts

Confidence plummets in Tory strategy for Covid-19
Staff and parents fight 'back to school' plans
Transport workers & passengers mustn't pay the price
Rich get handouts - workers get pay cuts
Contract tracer speaks out: Tories' plan is outsourced chaos
Crisis in council services: Labour must fight or stand aside
Furlough cut-off could force millions back to unsafe workplaces
Safe protests against Tory corona chaos continue
Johnson claims workplaces safe but HSE cancels inspections
Postal workers' action results in double victory for union
Trade unionists organise to fight for workplace safety in big NSSN meeting
Posties walk out in Peterborough after manager tests positive
Universal Basic Income: not a solution to insecurity and poverty under capitalism
The Jungle: capitalism's remorseless attack on workers' safety and conditions
Going viral: letters to the editors
Trump, coronavirus, capitalism, and the presidential race
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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1087/30785
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Furlough cut-off could force millions back to unsafe workplaces
- 100% furlough for all until workers say it's safe
- Full protection for vulnerable people
James Ivens
Will my boss starve me back to work this summer? It's a question that might start keeping 7.5 million furloughed workers up at night under the terms of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's extension. Even those workers most vulnerable to Covid-19 will be pushed to return, the Tories have confirmed.
The headlines focused on the Tory Treasury chief prolonging the subsidy to October - a relief to many. Ominously, however, he also said bosses would have to "share with the government the cost of paying salaries" from August.
Bosses are already meant to be 'sharing the cost'. The subsidy only covers 80% of your wages. But in many cases, the cost of the missing 20% has been 'shared' onto workers, not paid out of bosses' profits! Who can afford a 20% pay cut?
On top of this, Sunak signals the subsidy could fall even lower come late summer. But there's no safe exit strategy in place for the lockdown! Workers could face a choice between a further pay cut, unemployment, or risking your life to patch up the billionaires' profit machine.
And then, responding to questions from third sector employers, the government says that, in effect, vulnerable and disabled workers will be bullied back in at the same time! In fact, the government's 'shielding' category is inadequate as it is. The truth is that many workers who are older, have underlying conditions, or family members who are shielding, already have little option but to work.
It's not acceptable. We demand 100% furlough wages for all, paid directly to workers rather than subsidising bosses. And we demand a guarantee from the government that this will persist as long as workers feel they can't work safely.
And what about the thousands of workers who recently started jobs? Sunak says they can whistle for it.
HM Revenue and Customs needs the info on employees' first payslips to calculate Job Retention Scheme support. So workers who hadn't received one before the 19 March cut-off can't get the furlough subsidy. It's left - you guessed it - to the charity of your boss.
Of course, as an employee, you can't claim unemployment support unless you're made redundant. And the chickenfeed available on Universal Credit - if you're even eligible - can take weeks. Open the furlough scheme to new starters!
In this issue
What we think
Confidence plummets in Tory strategy for Covid-19
Resist school reopening
Staff and parents fight 'back to school' plans
Make transport safe
Transport workers & passengers mustn't pay the price
Socialist Party news and analysis
Rich get handouts - workers get pay cuts
Contract tracer speaks out: Tories' plan is outsourced chaos
Crisis in council services: Labour must fight or stand aside
Furlough cut-off could force millions back to unsafe workplaces
Safe protests against Tory corona chaos continue
Johnson claims workplaces safe but HSE cancels inspections
Workplace news and analysis
Postal workers' action results in double victory for union
Trade unionists organise to fight for workplace safety in big NSSN meeting
Posties walk out in Peterborough after manager tests positive
Universal Basic Income: not a solution to insecurity and poverty under capitalism
Readers' opinion
The Jungle: capitalism's remorseless attack on workers' safety and conditions
Going viral: letters to the editors
International socialist news and analysis
Trump, coronavirus, capitalism, and the presidential race
Related links:
Police use Covid laws to intimidate BLM protesters
Vaccine confidence - a worker's response
Plymouth rent strike continues
Covid: Bosses chase profit and put workers in danger
Books that inspired me: The Road to Wigan Pier
Trump Twitter ban: only independent workers' voice can defeat right
May elections: Tories and Labour's Khan both vying to slash public services
Bosses profit out of 'starvation' food parcels
High street jobs, safety and pay: We have to fight