Gone: school meals – pensioners benefits – winter fuel allowance
Coming: death tax for social care – watered down employment rights
And thats just for starters!

The question that voters have to answer when they go to vote on 8th June is one of a return to the 1980s and Thatcherism or a totally new direction for the working poor of this country?

Be afraid, be very afraid if you are a young worker, a student, in school, disabled, homeless. elderly, infirm, suffering from mental illness, pregnant, a parent, or a foreigner!

That list of targets for the Tories could be something you would see in a Nazi manifesto, never mind the ‘Thatcherite’ manifesto of the Tory party 2017!

TUC general secretary responded on Twitter today by saying:

“The PM’s manifesto reveals that Parliament will be able to water down hard-won workers’ rights that came from EU law after Brexit…And, at a time when the UK’s facing huge challenges, she’s picking an unnecessary fight with unions by undermining the basic right to strike. That will make it harder for ordinary transport workers to protect their jobs, pay and working conditions..”

CWU’s General Secretary, Dave Ward tried to put some levity in his Tweet urging people to fight back:

“Young, workers, elderly, disabled, migrants, vulnerable, students, foxes – it’s time to unite and fight back!”

In an article in The Guardian yesterday (17th May) Dave wrote:

“So while Theresa May stands in front of the television cameras to announce that the Conservatives will build a country that “works for everyone”, I wonder what she’d tell our young members who say they’ll have to wait for their parents to die to ever be able to afford their own home. Perhaps “strong and stable” wouldn’t really cut it with them.”

You can read Dave Ward’s full Guardian article here

The taxing of elderly people’s homes to pay for their care after they have died, is disgusting, parasitical and stems back to Dickensian days!

Now your house will be sold by the state and they will take their share of costs of your care whilst alive from the estate, robbing families of not only the money from the sale, but also the obvious choice to live in the property. Those living with elderly parents who pass away, will end up homeless!!

The TUC responded to Theresa ‘Thatcher’ May’s manifesto via their press release this afternoon:

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“The Prime Minister has said repeatedly that she wants to protect and enhance workers’ rights after Brexit.

But today her manifesto reveals that Parliament will be able to water down hard-won workers’ rights that came from EU law.

She’s also done nothing to help hard-pressed public servants who’re facing more years of real terms pay cuts.

And, at a time when the UK is facing huge challenges, she’s picking an unnecessary fight with trade unions, by undermining the basic right to strike. That will make it harder for ordinary transport workers to protect their jobs, pay and working conditions.”

Commenting specifically on measures to tackle abuses in the gig economy, Frances said:

“The Conservatives have ignored the elephant in the room – the chilling impact of tribunal fees.

While it’s promising that the Taylor Review is looking at improving working conditions in the gig economy, if you can’t afford to take your employer to tribunal, you can’t enforce your rights.”

Commenting specifically on the Conservatives’ pledge to scrap the triple lock on pensions, Frances said:

“The Conservatives have made the wrong political choice. If they can afford to cut corporation taxes, they can afford to keep the triple lock.

The UK has more than 1.5 million pensioners in poverty. And one of the lowest state pensions in the advanced world. The triple lock was meant to restore the state pension after it spent decades falling behind wages. That job isn’t finished.”

The choice for voters this General Election is whether or not to open the Pandora’s Box of the Tory manifesto, knowing that the very last thing out after the evil comes tumbling their way, is HOPE!

The advice of all those who give a damn about the NHS, ,the Elderly, Disabled, school children, parents, pensioners, the homeless, and the decent treatment of migrants; and of workers rights is:

” DON’T OPEN THAT BOX!“

VOTE LABOUR ON 8TH JUNE 2017

Source: Pic – C Ingram / video – #El4C / TUC / CWU