uniteBUILDINGWORKER Comment
LET THE WEALTHIEST PAY
Pensioners are missing meals, having to shelter in libraries and are more depressed – thanks to the government’s winter fuel allowance cuts, a Unite survey has found.
Over two-thirds of our retired members have had to turn their heating down this winter, a third are washing less and there are those that have had to cut back on hot meals – all because of the ever-rising costs of trying to stay warm.
For one in five, the cut has led them to become ill or their symptoms have worsened.
How much harder is it for our retired construction workers, among those hardest hit by the cut? Unite research estimated only 36 per cent of construction workers are enrolled in some form of pension plan. If the figures are similar for retired building workers, that means over 60 per cent only rely on their state pension.
Instead of picking the pocket of pensioners, the government should be looking at a wealth tax that targets the very richest in society.
The 50 richest families in the UK are worth a combined £500bn, the same as half the UK population. Against this backdrop of obscene wealth
concentrated in the hands of the very few, Unite supports the creation of a wealth tax – a levy of one per cent on the wealth of the wealthiest one per cent in society, which would generate £25bn.
The tax should be applied on the assets of those worth more than £4m. That way a household with assets worth £6m for example, would face a 1 per cent tax on anything about the £4m threshold – in this case, £2m. Assets would include property, shares and bank accounts but would exclude mortgaged property.
A wealth tax would wipe out the necessity of welfare benefit cuts and provide finances for investment in UK infrastructure. It would enable the government to fund the winter fuel payment for all pensioners, with money left over to help rebuild our broken NHS and public services.
Now we’ve had the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, I know workers won’t thank or forgive Labour for maintaining outdated financial discipline, while they face economic misery and can’t make ends meet.
But there is another path. Instead of snatching crumbs from workers, pensioners and the disabled, Labour should target
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buildingWORKER. Published by Unite, 128 Theobalds Road, London, WC1X 8TN. Phone 0207 611 2500. Editor – Amanda Campbell Magazine enquiries and letters to the editor, by post, phone, or email
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Sharon Graham General Secretary
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham writes
the massive concentration of wealth built up by the richest one per cent.
A wealth tax, as well as fairer taxes on corporate profiteers and the highest earners, would deliver far more money than any cuts to benefits and public services.
If the government pushes down a path of austerity, where yet again workers and communities pay the price, Unite will not stand by and watch it happen. We will do all in our power to fight for the future of jobs, services and our communities.
Mark Thomas
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