To: Members of the Birmingham Labour Group
Birmingham MPs
Members of the Birmingham Labour Party who support UNISON
Other trade unions
Workers campaigning to save their livelihoods
We know some of the Labour Group say they are supportive of our members but are unhappy with our members carrying out selective campaigning to protect their livelihoods. Fair enough. This sort of campaigning is not meant to make people feel comfortable – we are not comfortable doing it. With over 25 years of trade unionism under my belt, it is a first for me. I don't relish doing this, but I see my members have no choice.
But if our members’ campaigning was a factor in you voting to impose the pay cuts on our members, maybe you should hear their stories and reconsider.
We had a meeting of our members today and we asked them to (voluntarily) complete a form giving their current circumstances and what a pay cut would mean for them. Many of them were too proud to even complete and anonymous form but several did. And I will share some of their stories. Only their names have been changed – the rest is what they said in their own words.
Hannah
Are you struggling financially now?
Yes I am. I am a lone parent and the cost of living constantly rises and we have to go without basic living needs on many occasions
What would a 10% pay cut mean?
I cannot manage as it is. I live pay cheque to pay cheque and it does not always cover my bills and I have to borrow from my parents who are pensioners.
What would a 20% pay cut mean?
I will not manage. I do not know what I will do.
Samira
Are you struggling financially now?
I live with my mother-in-law and my husband doesn’t work. I am the only person working and I will lose £2,400
What would a 10% pay cut mean?
I have been depressed, sick, cannot sleep and unable to find a second job because of the flexible hours that are given to us
What would a 20% pay cut mean?
My roof is leaking, we have damp and it smells. We will not be able to repair the roof. Please do not cut my pay as it means a lot to me. My pay is so important.
Sally
Are you struggling financially now?
I live on my own and I have to pay my own bills. I do not work for pin money. What I earn I have to live on. I will lose £1,700. I cannot afford to lose this much.
What would a 10% pay cut mean?
This is an impact in living standards that will bring me into poverty. Just existing from day-to-day. I feel depressed and under a lot of stress. Unable to get a second job due to flexible hours we will have to work
What would a 20% pay cut mean?
My house needs work. The cupboard doors in the kitchen have fallen off. I will not be able to pay my bills. All I ask for a is a day’s pay for a hard day’s work. I am too proud to ask for charity. I am proud to be a carer and help other people.
And there are many more of these
There are many more similar sheets, but to be honest, even a grizzled bureaucrat like me cannot really type any more of these out as I’m finding them so upsetting. Some of the other forms I have are heart breaking. I will be sharing more of these over the days as it is important you all understand the real human impact of what you voted for yesterday.
Our members were messed about for over a year and lived with the stress of massive pay cuts hanging over them. Don't punish them because these ordinary working class people had no alternative but to hold the politicians responsible to account. It might be uncomfortable to be held to account for your decisions, but it is nothing like the stress and worry our members have about how they will survive day-to-day.
The Labour Party is a broad church and there are many strands of view, and that is one of our strengths. But even with a broad church, you could always rely on the fact that all party members believed in social justice. And you could also rely on the fact that all party members would read the stories above and all agree it was our job in the party to make these people’s lives better, not worse.
The impact of your decision to impose these cuts are not about numbers on presentation delivered by a highly remunerated council officer, instead it is about real people’s lives who are proud to be care workers and only ask in return that their employer treats them fairly.
So ask yourself – why did you join the Labour Party? Was it to make people’s lives better, or worse?
If you support our members’ cause but voted to impose these life damaging pay cuts because you don't like the campaigning done by people who are fighting to heat their houses, keep their houses and feed their children, then you have lost your moral compass. If you voted for these pay cuts because the stories above make no impact on you, then you are in the wrong party.
