Mon 29 Jul 2019, 04:16 AM | Posted by editor
LETTER from Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party member
In 2018, USDAW, the principle retail union, conducted a survey of members, of which 10,500 responded. Over 6000 of those that replied earned less than £8-50p an hour. The survey gave a grave picture of life for millions of workers in the UK.
92% had seen no improvement in real income over the last 5 years. 63% felt that they were actually worse off. Three quarters stated that they relied on debt to pay the bills. One third had missed or paid rent or mortgages late. Half had missed meals to pay for essential bills and 1 in 10 use food banks for themselves and families.
USDAW are campaigning for a £10 an hour minimum, 16-hour minimum contracts and the scrapping of Universal Credit, in order to alleviate the poverty conditions faced by many of its members. This is in line with the programme of Labour. The Tories will never support such a programme because they represent the bosses whose profits depend on poverty pay and conditions.
It looks like Johnson and co are preparing for an early election. The strategy is fronting up both the EU and Parliament on Brexit, combined with splashing the cash. An analysis on the BBC reported that Johnson intends to spend a similar amount to that ‘profligate’ Corbyn. The combo of jingoism and bribes is their formula for electoral success. Will this work? I don’t think so.
The election of a Labour Government is in my opinion the most likely outcome. However, Marxists do have a responsibility to point out that unless Labour commits to a programme of public ownership of the banks and monopolies, even the modest demands of USDAW are not assured.
