economy

‘Pre-election gimmicks’: How trade unions reacted to the Budget

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/03/pre-election-gimmicks-how-trade-unions-reacted-to-the-budget/

From missed opportunities to ‘Tory hot air’, trade unions weigh in on the Spring Budget announcements

Responding to Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget statement today, union leaders have shared their thoughts on what it will mean for workers across the UK, with warnings of deepening crises in their respective industries. 

The Chancellor was condemned for failing to announce proper investment in public services, with trade union leaders accusing him of using “deeply cynical” pre-election “gimmicks”.

Union leaders had already warned the Chancellor of the need to provide extra cash for public services, as Jeremy Hunt has been blasted for falling well short of delivering for working people. 

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/03/pre-election-gimmicks-how-trade-unions-reacted-to-the-budget/

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 Teachers’ union leader slams Government’s ‘absolute failure’ over Britain’s crumbling schools 

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Image credit: Sky News / YouTube

The leader of the UK’s top teachers’ union has ripped into the Government for its “absolute failure” to properly fund schools, following further revelations into the state of Britain’s crumbling classrooms. 

Schools across the country have been struggling to cope with urgent building repairs and mounting maintenance costs, BBC Panorama has been exposing, with schools unable to claim extra money for repairs to tackle leaks and cold. 

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Commenting on the latest investigation into the state of British school buildings, Daniel Kebede, who became General Secretary of the National Education Union last year, stressed that the failings lay firmly at the feet of the Government.   

Kebede wrote on X: “Make no mistake this is absolute failure from government.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2024/01/teachers-union-leader-slams-governments-absolute-failure-over-britains-crumbling-schools/

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This chart perfectly sums up how badly the Tories have ruined the economy

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/this-chart-perfectly-sums-up-how-badly-the-tories-have-ruined-the-economy/

While Jeremy Hunt was keen to portray an optimistic picture of his autumn statement, bragging about tax cuts and how he was ‘growing the economy’, even though the facts show otherwise

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The below chart illustrates just how bad this Parliament is for household income growth. So much for the Tories being the party of sound finances.

This parliament worst on record for household income growth (Picture credit: Resolution Foundation)
This parliament worst on record for household income growth (Picture credit: Resolution Foundation)

https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/this-chart-perfectly-sums-up-how-badly-the-tories-have-ruined-the-economy/

Continue ReadingThis chart perfectly sums up how badly the Tories have ruined the economy

Truss-supporting economists call for minimum wage to be frozen, then cut

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/truss-supporting-economists-call-for-minimum-wage-to-be-frozen-then-cut/

‘Is it too much of a stretch to recognise that poverty is the CAUSE of poor growth.’

Image of cash and pre-payment meter key
Image of cash and pre-payment meter key

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The Growth Commission was formed by Liz Truss, following her resignation as prime minister after her chaotic 49 days in government. Truss was in the audience at the Commission’s event, alongside Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Brexit negotiator, Lord David Frost.

Minimum wage rates increased in April. The level is currently set at £10.42 an hour for those aged 23 and over. 21-22-year-olds must be paid a minimum of £10.18 an hour, 18 to 20-year-olds receive £7.49 and under 18s and apprentices have to be paid no lower than an hourly rate of £5.28.

Growth Commission co-chairman, Shanker Singham, said the group was “concerned about how high” Britain’s minimum wage is compared with other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“There is nothing wrong with the minimum wage. What matters in terms of competition is where it is set,” said Singham.

“What we are intending to do in the UK is move it to 66 percent of median wage, which is far higher than any other OECD country by next year and will be a significant drag on the economy.

“So we are suggesting freezing it and targeting it down to 61 percent.

“Even that small reduction or that small change in minimum wage has a very big impact on GDP per capita, according to our calculations,” he added.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/11/truss-supporting-economists-call-for-minimum-wage-to-be-frozen-then-cut/

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Activists drench Sainsbury’s in red paint over supermarket profiteering

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/this-is-rigged-launch-offensive-against-supermarket-profiteering

Members of This Is Rigged covered the Sainsbury’s branch in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street with red paint Photo: This is Rigged / Twitter

CLIMATE and social justice activists in Scotland have highlighted their opposition to food poverty by staging a series of stunts.

Members of This Is Rigged covered the Sainsbury’s branch in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street with red paint today as they demanded an end to “profiteering” by supermarkets.

The day before, the group entered Edinburgh Castle and smashed the glass case housing the Stone of Destiny, which had recently been returned to Scotland following the coronation of Charles Windsor.

Near the end of a year of high-profile interventions pressing for decisive action on climate change and a fair net-zero transition for workers, the group’s latest stunts are focused on the cost-of-greed crisis, which they argue is indivisible from the climate crisis.

The group warned that it would escalate actions in support of its demands that the Scottish government provide “food hubs” in every community and that supermarkets reverse their 24 per cent increase in baby food prices over the last two years.

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/this-is-rigged-launch-offensive-against-supermarket-profiteering

Continue ReadingActivists drench Sainsbury’s in red paint over supermarket profiteering