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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 October 2021
Pay NHS and care staff to address worker shortages
Health workers submitted an 800,000-strong petition for an NHS pay rise to Downing Street Photo: Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Hospital worker
Boris Johnson's suggestion of a pay rise for HGV drivers to attract more workers into this essential job is very welcome. There are 100,000 vacancies in the NHS, and 120,000 vacancies for care workers, so it is about time the government gave us big pay rise too!
The NHS and care sector are on their knees. Health and care workers are facing financial disaster, as well as chronic understaffing that undermines patient care.
Even the 3% pay 'rise' many NHS staff got in September leaves them with less money in their pockets because of increased pension contributions, energy and other bills skyrocketing, and a Universal Credit cut of £20 a week. This is before they are asked to pay for the NHS and social care funding shortfall out of their own pockets, with the planned increase in National Insurance.
Between 2010 and 2021, NHS workers lost an average of 20% of their wages. It's time for them to get that back and more. Strike action by health workers could force the government into yet another U-turn.
34.7% of all global tax losses were the responsibility of the UK and its overseas territories and crown dependencies in 2019 - $160 billion, according to the Tax Justice Network
8,950,963 nurses' salaries could be paid by the tax losses of the world's two worst tax offenders - the UK and British overseas territory, Cayman Islands
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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.
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In The Socialist 6 October 2021:
What we think
Bakers' union disaffiliates from Labour
News
Sarah Everard trial reveals police abuse of power
Tories plunge millions further into poverty with Universal Credit cut
Railway bosses cook the books in another capitalist market failure
Glasgow's equal pay battle set to re-erupt
Pay NHS and care staff to address worker shortages
Workplace news
NEU: National executive agrees campaign on pay
Coordinated FE strike against measly pay offer
Unison LG members reject insulting pay offer
Unite health members say no to 3% and vote for action
Tesco warehouse rep fighting for reinstatement
Scunthorpe steel scaffolders strike for pay rise
Brighton waste workers walk out
Economy
Capitalism's economic instability in the 'new normal'
Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs - why we're marching on 9 October
Ten years since our 330-mile Jarrow March for Jobs
Campaigns news
Barking NHS: "Sorry, please try again later"
We have the right to breathe fresh air
Nottingham: Punish Labour for cruel cuts
London protest for Texas abortion rights
North West socialists join march against Tory conference
Fighting Fund target smashed - £31,703 raised
Obituary
Obituary - Dave Hardaker, 1952-2021
Review
Caffeine and capitalism - a symbiotic relationship
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