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Covid and precarious workers - union organisation vital
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The Trades Union Congress confederation has produced hard facts showing what the Socialist has long argued: namely, that workers on zero-hour contracts and in other precarious jobs are twice as likely to have died from Covid-19 compared to other, more secure, occupations.
Covid-19 death rates among male workers in insecure jobs was 51 per 100,000 people aged 20-64, compared with 24 out of 100,000 in more secure work. For female workers the rate was 25 per 100,000, compared with 13 per 100,000 in higher-paying secure jobs.
Needless to say, the absence of and poor level of sick pay (some two million workers don't qualify for Statutory Sick Pay) was forcing many low-paid precarious workers infected with Covid into work.
Clearly, trade union recruitment of the unorganised and trade union oversight of safe working conditions, along with enhanced sickness benefits, is vital.
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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.
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