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From The Socialist newspaper, 9 February 2022
'I'm dreading trying to live on a nurse's salary'
Nurses marching for the NHS, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Student nurse
As a student nurse in London, I'm living in an expensive city on a paltry student loan during my three years of training.
Necessities like food and even haircuts are all extortionately priced. These are combined with the cost of travelling to and from my work placement - which is facing a rise.
All this has forced me take on extra work during my studies to help bridge the funding gap with my loan, which I'll have to pay back when I'm earning.
I'm dreading trying to live in London on a nursing salary once I qualify at the end of this year. Rents are at an all-time high, and indeed continue to rise across the whole country, while nursing wages have fallen way short of price rises.
Only option
My only housing option available is 'staff accommodation', which offers minimal privacy and is only temporary. Even if I get this, I will have to try and save enough to help cover the high rents once I must leave.
The rising costs of necessities, whether living in the capital or elsewhere, means that more and more people are living from pay cheque to pay cheque.
It's frightening to see this exploitation of working people deepen with the removal of the energy price cap and the rise in national insurance. Meanwhile, the super-rich have profited during the years of the Covid pandemic.
Nurses, like many other workers, have been left behind and exploited over and over again by this Tory government of the rich.
It's high time that workers stand up and fight.
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In The Socialist 9 February 2022:
TUSC
No one in Westminster backs a pay rise for us...
Preparing for the council and Erdington elections
News
Cut our fuel bills - nationalise energy
'I'm dreading trying to live on a nurse's salary'
Cuts created NHS waiting list crisis
Oxfam 'Inequality Kills' report
Tories' 'levelling up' falls well short
Tories' 'partygate' crisis continues - kick them out
What we think
Catastrophic energy bill hike - a crisis made by capitalism
Workplace news
Force back Serco and Barts management!
Support the university strikes!
Tesco slashes jobs and customer service
Just Eat couriers drive chief exec out of town as strike spreads
Scunthorpe scaffs mark 100 days of strike action with protests
Perfect storm brewing in education
PCS consultative pay and conditions ballot - vote 'Yes'
Campaigns news
King's student union refuses to back staff strike and NUS walkout
A socialist voice in Stanwell North
Tamil Solidarity protest against repressive Sri Lankan regime
Socialist Party youth meeting: Mood is changing - socialist ideas growing
Swansea Trades Council pledges to fight local government cuts
The Socialist: 25 years of assisting workers' struggles and fighting for socialism
International news
Pro-market Socialist Party wins Portugal's election
Debate
Does the fight for Trans rights conflict with women's rights?
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2021