“During the worst cost of living crisis in living memory caused by 14 years of Tory cuts, Jeremy Hunt has shown two fingers to workers unable to afford even the basics.”
Matt Wrack, FBU
By Matt Willgress, Labour Assembly Against Austerity
Trade unionists slammed another austerity budget from the Tories today, with FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack saying that “this is the final insult from the Tories after nearly a decade and a half of attacks on workers and the most vulnerable,” and concluding that “during the worst cost of living crisis in living memory caused by 14 years of Tory cuts, Jeremy Hunt has shown two fingers to workers unable to afford even the basics.”
On the same theme, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch commented that “This is a budget of tax cuts and gimmicks designed to thinly disguise a Tory government only interested in propping up the super-rich.”
He also pointed out the alternative to never-ending austerity, arguing that “the only way you get real growth that benefits working people is by investment in publicly owned public services, transport infrastructure and a general wage rise to increase spending power in the economy,” and adding that “This can be paid for by windfall taxes on big business profits and taxing the super rich to unlock wealth and distribute it more evenly across society.”
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham pointed to the crucial issue facing our economy – namely the massive crisis of “under-investment in our industries and public services,” whilst corporate profits soar and the government continue massive cuts.
The National Education Union (NEU) meanwhile argued “today’s Budget does NOTHING to address the funding crisis in schools and colleges” and pointed out the need to take action in the period ahead.
With the Labour Front bench seemingly signing up to the establishment’s attempts to form a ‘permanent austerity consensus,’ it is welcome and much needed to see these unions speaking out both clearly against the Tory cuts and for an alternative economic approach based on investment not cuts. For our part, we will continue to build support for the 21,000 strong Workers Can’t Wait set of demands and back all those unions and communities taking action against the cuts.
- Matt Willgress is the National Organiser for the Labour Assembly Against Austerity.
- Join over 20,000 others and add you name in support to the Workers Can’t Wait demands here
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