www.socialistworker.co.uk UNI ONS MUST FIGH T FOR AN ALTERNATIVE ■ I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly ■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party Name .............................................. ............................................... ................... Address .......................................... ............................................... ................... .......................................................................................................................... Phone........................................ .....e-mail ............................................ ........... Circulation 020 7819 1171 Editorial 020 7819 1180 Return to SW industrial, PO Box 42184, London, SW8 2WD e-mail [email protected] or phone/text 07986 936094 General 11121 4 I N THE WE EK AFTER THE TORIES signalled more cuts packages that will savage our welfare state, jobs and pay, we were reminded of how the other half live. Tory Baroness Jenkin, who is on the House of Lords committee that spent £260,000 on champagne, had the cheek to blame the rise of foodbanks on poor people ’s inabilit y to co ok. Meanwhile millions have seen cuts to their hospitals and services, as benets and jobs are slashed and pay freezes or pay cu ts impose d. Y ou couldn’t make it up. And for many, this outrageous hypocrisy from the barone ss sums up a politi cal el ite who are completely disconnected from the reality of austerity Britain for the rest of us. After four years of brutal Tory austerity, and Labour failing to offer an alternative, the question of how to stop the assault on workers is posed sharply as the general election looms. Blame Racist UKip are feeding off of people’s despair by scapegoating migrants and seeking to divide working class people through racism. Let’s be clear―it’s not migrant workers who are to blame for the economic crisis, it’s the bankers who were bailed out, and the rich who are avoiding their tax and continuing to get richer while we’re made to pay. Don’t believe UKip’s lies. They have tried to pose as an alternative to the mainstream, with Nigel Farage presenting himself as a real man of the people. It couldn’t be further from the truth― the man is a banker who was privately educated at the elite Dulwich College. UKip masquerades as a party that represents working people. The reality is that they represent a break from the Tories, and think working class people aren’t being a ttacke d hard e nough by this coaliti on. UKip wants to privatise the NHS, and has thoroughly sexist and homophobic policie s. We cannot allow workers to be divided by raci sm and the bla me game . Instead let’s make the rich pay. United, we can stand together to oppose austerity and ght for jobs, homes, services and a £10 minimum wage now for everyone. Power When action has been called by union leaders to stand up to austerity, workers have responded magnicently. Our unions have the power to mobilise a serious ght that can force an end to austerity. That’s why it is a shame that some union leaders, for example in local government, have pulled back from action for lousy deals. Lords spend £260,000 on champagne and blame poor for rise in foodbanks! “We rescue people, not banks” say striking reghters We cannot simply wait to elect a Labour government. Ed Miliband has made clear that Labour will continue with Tory spending cuts and pay insults. Striking reghters and NHS workers, and local disputes―such as the current strikes by DSG Unite defence workers who are ghting over pay and UCU Lambeth College lecturers challenging imposed contracts―are leading the way. Demands We need to organise inside our unions for demands for the general election that can, whatever government we get, improve working class people’s lives. But it’s clear that our unions have to be prepar ed to g ht to make thi s happe n.