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From The Socialist newspaper, 17 March 2021
Standing for TUSC in Worcester
As a step towards building a mass party of the working class
TUSC campaigners in Worcester 2015, photo Mark Davies (Click to enlarge)
Calvin Fowler, Worcester Socialist Party
Worcester council is Tory run, and its underfunding of services has been appalling. Also, over the last few years we have seen our hospital, The Worcestershire, in the headlines. It has not been reaching acceptable levels of care, not due to the hard-working NHS staff, but the crippling PFI debt and underfunding. This in turn has led to low staff morale, ward closures, and outpatient services being stopped.
In 2019, the Tory council proposed to shut two community libraries due to lack of funds. So a 'Save Our Libraries' group was set up with local residents and members of the Worcestershire Socialist Party. We organised public meetings, a rally and a protest. It was well-publicised and well-attended. This mobilisation of the working class led to the money suddenly being found by the council, and the libraries staying open.
In Worcester, like in other towns and cities, the pandemic has seen shops closing and smaller shops being unable to pay the super-high rents and business rates.
Where I work there are five of us. Three of us, myself included, have been furloughed since last March. 80% of your wages isn't a government hand out - it's a pay cut!
Austerity
The austerity following the 2007-08 banking crash, where the establishment politicians showed that they would rather bail out their mates in the banks than help the working class, has meant poorer living conditions for all workers and has snowballed ever since.
The mood in Worcester is one of anger at the injustice. The Labour Party at local and national level is not a party for the working class, but merely a second eleven for capitalism. We need a new mass workers' party. I am standing as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in Worcester as a step towards building one.
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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 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.
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In The Socialist 17 March 2021:
End violence against women
Violence against women - we will not be silenced
NHS
Rich pickings for private companies - peanuts for health workers
NHS workers map out strategy to win 15% pay rise
Review
Media
Can the capitalist media prevent socialist change?
Workplace news
British Gas strike at crucial stage
Electricians protest against deskilling and lower wages
Goodlord workers continue strike against 'fire and rehire'
Thousands of BT workers to ballot for strike action
Government's bus plans fall short of making up for the cuts
Reinstate Moe - stop trade union-busting at Abellio!
PCS members at Swansea DVLA to strike for safety
Elections
Council funding crisis - We need a workers' programme to restore the stolen millions
We need a fighting strategy to win funding from the government - why I'm standing for TUSC
Standing for TUSC in Worcester
Help fund the Socialist Party's election campaign as part of TUSC
Campaigns news
Build for the Socialist Students day of action on 21 April
I couldn't just stand and watch! - Why I joined the Socialist Party
Socialist Party LGBTQ+ members meeting
International news
Myanmar: workers brave brutal military crackdown
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