Fight for a workers’ recovery

2022 will see more pain inflicted on working-class people as rising costs outstrip incomes, meaning real-terms pay cuts and loss of vital incomes for millions.

RPI inflation hit 7.1% at the end of 2021, the highest level in 30 years. And it will get worse.

The energy bill cap will be lifted leading to massive hikes in prices for gas and electricity.

National Insurance will also rise, meaning workers will pay an extra 1.25p in every pound earned over the threshold. For the average worker that means an extra £255 a year.

Increased council tax bills, rents and mortgages will also be dropping on people’s doormats as councils pass on austerity through increased charges and cuts to services.

The Resolution Foundation think-tank estimates that all this means an additional cost from April of a whopping £1,200 a year for a typical family. It says this risks a “cost of living catastrophe”.

For the rich its a different story. The world’s ten richest men more than doubled their fortunes from $700 billion to $1.5 trillion – atrise of $1.3 billion a day – during the pandemic.

At the same time 160 million people globally were forced into poverty – living on less than $5.50 a day. Workers are fighting back.

Strikes are taking place in dozens of workplaces, some have won victories over fire and rehire or won pay increases. What is clear is that 2022 is going to see many more strikes and action by workers over pay and living standards. coordinated action

The trade unions must lead the fight back by organising coordinated strike action across the private and public sector. Unions have to be demanding at least pay rises to match the rising cost of living.

The supposed recovery after Covid willremain a myth unless we build a mass movement to win what we need from the bosses and governments.

As well as concerted trade union fightback on wages, the working class also needs a genuine political alternative – a new mass working class party – to fight on issues like the cost of living crisis, for public ownership and for a socialist recovery for the working class.

In May, the Scottish council elections take place. Socialist Party Scotland will be standing as part of the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition against all cuts and for socialist policies to ensure an end to working-class people paying the price of the crisis.

Come to the Scottish TUSC conference on Saturday 19 February and build the fightback.

We fight for

• Above inflation pay rises
• Decent pensions and benefits, rising with the cost of living
• A £15-an-hour minimum wage with no youth exemptions
• Make big business pay. Take energy, housing, supermarkets, banks and privatised care into public ownership under democratic workers’ control to be run for people’s needs, not profit
• A new mass workers’ party to fight in our interests