Turning the tide on despair
The world we live in is framed by multifaceted crises, from raging wars and genocide to climate and ecological crisis and the threat of the far right. A decade of austerity has led to historic cuts in our wages and conditions.
It is shocking that in the 21st century the phrase ‘workplace poverty’ has become a normalised term to describe those in work who can’t afford to survive. But the experience of workers being poorer than their parents’ generation is not one shared by all in society. The employers, bankers and those who hold power have never experienced such an increase in unbridled wealth.
The government and the employers tell us that they can’t afford decent pay or afford to fund our schools and hospitals but when it comes to wars, there is a bottomless pit.
We celebrated in July 2024 after 14 years of Tory rule ended when a Labour Government was elected. Unfortunately, Starmer’s Labour government has continued with the Tory government’s economic and foreign policies and is set for more cuts to our public services.
His government has backed genocide in Gaza, underfunds our schools and hospitals, cut benefits, pensions and winter fuel allowances and has refused to implement manifesto commitments to save the planet.
Labour’s plans to increase defence spending and its continued commitment to nuclear weapons will take money from other areas of the economy that are vital to our communities and a decent living standard and future for all. We need investment in public services and jobs that are essential for our society.
Working people did not vote for more of the same. They expect real change so that our lives are not one continuous struggle to make ends meet.
Starmer is playing with fire. In Britain and Europe, the far right are positioning themselves to be the benefactors of the collapse of Labour type governments’ as they attempt to do the bidding of the bosses.
Rather than countering the racist attacks on immigrants and Muslims by the far right Starmer attempts to outdo them by repeating the same lies.
It is through desperation that some working people believe that Farage and Reform UK offer a genuine alternative. They don’t. They are very wealthy people backed by other very wealthy people who pose to be the friend of workers. They will use every trick in the trade to divide us to gain more political power to pursue a pro-business and anti-union agenda.
Organise for hope not despair
To stop Starmer’s continuity of Tory polices at home and abroad and to stop the far-right capitalising on his betrayal we need to bring together all those who believe that an alternative to austerity, wars, climate denial and racism is possible.
Since October 7th millions of people have taken to the streets calling for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Palestine. The recent ban of the right to march and arrest of leading figures of this movement underlines the urgency to defend the right to protest.
The ecological crisis frames all of these issues. As scientific reports churn out data about the devastating impact fossil fuels are having on our planet, governments continue not to heed their warnings.
It is only through our mass campaigning that we can begin to tip the balance in favour of those who create the wealth and away from bosses and bankers who don’t.
Where there are multifaceted crises impacting on people’s lives simultaneously, we will need to campaign on all. Each of the different crises impacts the other. Success on the political campaigns feeds into our ability to fight on the economic issues that confront us and vice versa.
We call on all trade unionists, campaigners and activists to attend the conference on 29th March in Central London to begin to construct through debate and discussion a network of activists across sectors. A network that can deliver solidarity to those who are taking action to protect their living standards and with those who are building the movements to free Palestine, end the drive to a war economy, stop the far right and prevent the further deterioration of our planet.
Sarah Woolley, General Secretary BFAWU
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary NEU
Jeremy Corbyn, MP, Peace & Justice Project
Brian Eno, musician
Grace Blakeley, author and economist
Sarah Kilpatrick, President NEU
Ed Harlow, Vice President NEU
Steve North*, UNISON president
Dr Maria Chondrogianni, UCU President-elect
Owen Jones, columnist
James Meadway, economist
Tracy Scott, NHS Workers Say No & RCN member
Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition
Tahir Latif, Greener Jobs Alliance
Julia Mwaluke*, UNISON Vice President
Andrea Egan*, UNISON NEC
Ameen Hadi, NW UNISON Black Members
Liz Wheatley,* UNISON NEC
Jordan Rivera*, UNISON NEC & Health SGE
Paula Dunne, Strike Map
Jess Edwards, NEU NEC
Alex Gordon*, former President RMT
Suzanne Jeffery, Campaign Against Climate Change
Sean Vernell, UCU NEC
Louise Regan, NEU NEC
Yanis Varoufakis, author
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up to Racism
Sam Mason, VP CND Labour Movement