Baroness Jenkin spent £260,000 on champagne for the House of Lords but blamed rising food bank use on poor people's inability to cook. The article argues this hypocrisy sums up how political elites are disconnected from austerity Britain. It calls for unions to mobilize against austerity and fight for higher wages and better services, rather than waiting for Labour who will also impose cuts. Racism should not divide workers, who are not to blame but rather bankers and the rich avoiding taxes.
Baroness Jenkin spent £260,000 on champagne for the House of Lords but blamed rising food bank use on poor people's inability to cook. The article argues this hypocrisy sums up how political elites are disconnected from austerity Britain. It calls for unions to mobilize against austerity and fight for higher wages and better services, rather than waiting for Labour who will also impose cuts. Racism should not divide workers, who are not to blame but rather bankers and the rich avoiding taxes.
Baroness Jenkin spent £260,000 on champagne for the House of Lords but blamed rising food bank use on poor people's inability to cook. The article argues this hypocrisy sums up how political elites are disconnected from austerity Britain. It calls for unions to mobilize against austerity and fight for higher wages and better services, rather than waiting for Labour who will also impose cuts. Racism should not divide workers, who are not to blame but rather bankers and the rich avoiding taxes.
Lords spend 260,000 on champagne and blame poor for rise in foodbanks!
UNIONS MUST FIGHT
FOR AN ALTERNATIVE I
N THE WEEK AFTER THE TORIES
signalled more cuts packages that will savage our welfare state, jobs and pay, we were reminded of how the other half live. Tory Baroness Jenkin, who is on the House of Lords committee that spent 260,000 on champagne, had the cheek to blame the rise of foodbanks on poor peoples inability to cook. Meanwhile millions have seen cuts to their hospitals and services, as benefits and jobs are slashed and pay freezes or pay cuts imposed. You couldnt make it up. And for many, this outrageous hypocrisy from the baroness sums up a political elite who are completely disconnected from the reality of austerity Britain for the rest of us. After four years of brutal Tory austerity, and Labour failing to offer an alternative, the question of how to stop the assault on workers is posed sharply as the general election looms.
Blame
Racist UKip are feeding off of peoples
despair by scapegoating migrants and seeking to divide working class people through racism. Lets be clearits not migrant workers who are to blame for the economic crisis, its the bankers who were bailed out, and the rich who are avoiding their tax and continuing to get richer while were made to pay. Dont believe UKips lies. They have tried to pose as an alternative to the mainstream, with Nigel Farage presenting himself as a real man of the people. It couldnt be further from the truth the man is a banker who was privately educated at the elite Dulwich College. UKip masquerades as a party that represents working people. The reality is that they represent a break from the Tories, and think working class people arent being attacked hard enough by this coalition. UKip wants to privatise the NHS, and has thoroughly sexist and homophobic policies.
We rescue people, not banks
say striking firefighters
We cannot allow workers to be divided
by racism and the blame game. Instead lets make the rich pay. United, we can stand together to oppose austerity and fight for jobs, homes, services and a 10 minimum wage now for everyone.
Power
When action has been called by union
leaders to stand up to austerity, workers have responded magnificently. Our unions have the power to mobilise a serious fight that can force an end to austerity. Thats why it is a shame that some union leaders, for example in local government, have pulled back from action for lousy deals.
We cannot simply wait to elect a Labour
government. Ed Miliband has made clear that Labour will continue with Tory spending cuts and pay insults. Striking firefighters and NHS workers, and local disputessuch as the current strikes by DSG Unite defence workers who are fighting over pay and UCU Lambeth College lecturers challenging imposed contractsare leading the way.
Demands
We need to organise inside our unions for
demands for the general election that can, whatever government we get, improve working class peoples lives. But its clear that our unions have to be prepared to fight to make this happen.
I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly
I want to join the Socialist Workers Party Name................................................................................................................. Address............................................................................................................. .......................................................................................................................... Phone.............................................e-mail........................................................
General 111214
Return to SW industrial, PO Box 42184, London, SW8 2WD
e-mail industrial@swp.org.uk or phone/text 07986 936094