Tory plan to axe strikers’ benefits vindictive & discriminates against low-paid
June 18th, 2012IDS, fresh from supporting corrupt and ineffective welfare-to-work companies like A4E, chopping DLA and Incapacity Benefit for up to a million disabled persons, extending unpaid mandatory work schemes, and forcing 100,000 families out of their homes through cuts in Housing Benefit – all part of the government’s overall plan to cut benefits by £18bn while the ultra-rich have gained £155bn over the last 3 years but pay little or no tax – is now set to axe strikers’ benefits. Ever since the 1948 National Assistance Act workers wo take industrial action continue to get Housing Benefit and Working Tax Credits for up to 10 days. Even though Thatcher never touched these entitlements, IDS is now determined to withdraw them when his universal tax credit comes into operation in October next year. It won’t stop, for example, doctors on £100,000 a year who are this week taking part in their first strike since 1975 over a dispute on pensions. But it will hit the lowest-paid public sector workers like teaching assistants, nurses, transport workers, and cleaners. (more…)
