#Worldwide #Information #Blogger #LucSchrijvers: #Past2 #Update: #anarchist #information from all over the #world - 25.04.2020

Today's Topics:

   
1.  Poland, Workers' Initiative Union OZZ: Stop gambling with
      our lives! We won't be a human shield for the Corona crisis!
      (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)
   
2.  Britain, Class Warr MONDAY 20 APRIL 2020 - AN OPEN LETTER TO
      MATT HANCOCK (a-infos-en@ainfos.ca)


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Message: 1



"People before profits! Enough of workers' rights violation!" ---- Statement by National Committee of IP - The Workers' Initiative Union
(OZZ Inicjatywa Pracownicza) in response to the Polish government's emergency measures in light of the Corona crisis ---- In response to the
crisis brought on by the Corona virus pandemic, the government of Poland adopted a set of emergency measures they call the "anti-crisis
shield". Both the amount of money that the "shield" allocates for relief as well as the remedies it proposes, are either completely
insufficient or downright misguided. Many of the "shield's" measures will lead to lowering wages, weakening unions and making workers even
more subordinate to our bosses than we already are. We categorically oppose all wage cuts: workers will not shoulder the costs of yet
another crisis. Below, we highlight the government's worst ideas and oversights. In what follows, we present a list of 10 demands that
should be met and implemented immediately.

Worst ideas and oversights in the government's "anti-crisis shield":

1. A large part of the working population in Poland does not have any job security. They are casual employees, hired through outsourcing or
temporary work agencies, or they are self-employed. These workers will suffer the most as a result of the crisis. At the moment, they face
the threat of losing their earnings and any benefits. In response, the government's "shield" provides for a one-time payment of 2,000 PLN
before tax (roughly 435 euros before tax) to casual workers in need. Given predictions that the crisis will last for many more months to
come, this handout does not make for real support.

2. 2.5 million casual workers in Poland are underinsured or do not have access to health insurance at all. In effect, they cannot take paid
sick leave. Those who do have access to basic public healthcare must pay if they need to see a specialist or if they need hospitalization.
The outbreak of Corona shows that the universal right to healthcare lies in everyone's interest. But the government's "shield" does not
provide for any significant changes in this matter.

3. The government is trying to focus public attention on saving jobs. But this argument serves to justify transferring huge sums of money to
business owners. With the "shield's" bail-out package business will gain government subsidies to wages during downtime and the legal option
of reducing their employees' wages by up to half! This makes business the real beneficiary of the government's plan, which ultimately dumps
the costs on us, workers.

4. Changes that the "shield" proposes to labor law give employers a lot of freedom to reorganize work as they wish (especially when it comes
to working time or periods of economic downtime). In a country where unions and all forms of worker control have been systematically
combated, this means no social control over the use of funds that business will receive from the state budget. Further, it means that
workers will have a hard time resisting their bosses' attempts to impose "anti-crisis measures" at the workplace, even though such measures
might not be necessary at all.

5. The government makes no mention of unemployment benefits. During moments of high unemployment in the past, unions repeatedly indicated
that unemployment benefits are too low and the time period when they are given is too short. For example, in December 2019, only 16.4% of
registered unemployed were entitled to benefits in the amount of only 741.87 PLN after tax (about 163 euro) for the first 3 months. We are
dealing with a serious crisis. The government must realize that there will be a significant increase in the number of jobless people who
will need income to survive.

6. A massive wave of layoffs has hit workers who lack job security (the casually employed, temp agency workers, fixed-term contract
employees and the self-employed). Layoffs have plagued casual workers in industries like gastronomy, tourism, entertainment and in
subcontracted public services. The crisis has only highlighted the deeply antisocial nature of temporary forms of employment. Meanwhile, the
government's message to these workers is, "you should have arranged to insure yourself." As if this were actually possible for workers
without any job security.

7. We say "no!" to any changes aimed at making work more flexible (like by extending reference periods). For the past three decades, the
government's typical response to crisis (both real and presumed) has been to make work more flexible. This practice has had disastrous
effects on job security. Today, the government confirms that it can only operate within the canon of neoliberal economic policy, which
always ultimately seeks to weaken the position of workers on the labor market.

8. The "shield" does not address the mounting problem of low pensions. It also does not provide any safeguards for elderly workers against
the effects of the crisis.

9. Little attention is given in the "shield" to protecting home budgets against the rising costs of living, like growing food prices and
rents. Likewise, the government does not consider loss of income effects, like: debt on rent, mortgage debt, debt on basic bills like gas,
electricity and heating, or the threat of eviction or foreclosure.

10. The government's plan comes at a time when democratic decision-making procedures are suspended. In effect, we don't have any say on
these highly important issues. We fear that any relief will go primarily to the banking sector, the biggest player in today's world of
politics. Already, a large part of the 212 billion PLN (about 46 billion euros) aid package is going to the financial sector. In the
previous economic crisis (2007-2008), the same banking sector consumed not billions, but literally trillions of dollars and euros. In the
current collapse, the financial sector is in no way helping to save the economy but rather dragging it to the bottom. It's a scandal that
the ruling class has not drawn conclusions from the previous crisis, and that today it is again giving in to finance's blackmail. The
problem boils down to the fact that the banks (the private and the commercialized) are in possession of our salaries, which is what makes us
subject to their pressure and blackmail. Accordingly, in consultation with the government, the National Bank of Poland has decided to
increase the banks' liquidity by relieving them of the obligation to make reserves (40 billion PLN).

11. Successive neoliberal governments (including the ruling Law and Justice party PiS, in power twice) have systematically ignored the needs
of the public healthcare system, social services, and other care services for the elderly and dependents. As a result of years of cuts on
public spending, today, these key sectors are unprepared for the battle at hand. The Polish healthcare system is breaking down under the
weight of an additional several hundred people requiring hospitalization! Neglect along with the long-term effects of austerity politics in
the public sector might now lead to large-scale epidemiological and economic collapse.

12. The "shield" provides no support for guardians and caretakers (of children, the elderly and people with disabilities) who are now
dealing with difficult access to medication, treatment and rehabilitation.

Instead of the government's "anti-crisis shield", we present our demands:

1. The temporary shutdown of large workplaces that are not essential during the epidemic, and which pose a threat to public health due to
their organization of work (warehouses and factories that neither supply nor produce critical products like medical supplies or food).
Workers should be paid their salaries in full for this time. In turn, public authorities should make sure that employers are not forcing
workers to take "mandatory vacations".

2. A welfare benefits system that will guarantee an income to all those who are unable to work. This system should also allow universal
access to healthcare regardless of circumstances. The current crisis should be used to reorganize the entire social welfare system so that
access to healthcare becomes a fundamental, universal right that is not tied to employment status. Further, a newly organized system should
guarantee income and the right to housing for everyone.

3. Worker control at the workplace must be established and strengthened. Any relief should be directed to workers themselves.

4. Unemployment benefits have to be increased and provided over longer periods of time. All persons in their working age who do not have a
job must be allowed the right to receive this benefit.

5. Eliminate all forms of casual employment. At-will contracts, fixed term contracts, self-employment, temp agencies and temporary
employment in general transfer the risks associated with crisis (economic, environmental or health crisis) onto the shoulders of working
people. This only serves to make exploitation more intense. This epidemic proves that the only acceptable form of employment should be a
permanent employment contract (preceded at most, by a single probationary period employment contract).

6. Safeguard the solidarity-based pension system and raise the minimum pension. The goal should be a pension system that allows seniors to
cover the costs of living so that there is no need to "work on the side because the pension is too small".

7. A freeze on rents and mortgage payments. Suspend evictions and provide free access to basic utilities for all (electricity, gas, running
water, and heating). Provide immediate relief for the tens of thousands of people who are facing the crisis of homeless.

8. Nationalize the banking and financial sectors, along with industries critical in the time of epidemic such as health and transport, or
subject them to other restrictive forms of social control.

9. Prioritize financing the public health care system in the state budget.

10. Establish a financial support program for the care sector so that it meets the needs of both dependents and their caretakers.

The extra costs of these programs cannot come out of working people's pay checks. Over the past 30 years, employers seized more than half of
the wealth generated by the economy in the form of profits. Today, when money is needed for unemployment benefits or the health care system,
we should look for it in the pockets of bosses, millionaires, CEOs, and bankers. Only the dividends paid to shareholders last year by the 13
largest companies listed on the Polish stock exchange amounted to 12.3 billion PLN. This is ten times more than the funding allotted to the
Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, which secures workers' salaries in case of an employers' bankruptcy.


http://www.ozzip.pl/english-news/item/2617-stop-gambling-with-our-lives-we-wont-be-human-shield-for-coronarcisis

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Message: 2



"Dear Matt, ---- As someone currently working in social care I am utterly dismayed, confused and angry about the way you are mishandling the
needs of our elderly and their carers. ---- I am currently isolating an 86 year old vulnerable dementia client in her own home, and carrying
out strict infection control. I am aware that this virus is sneaky and no matter what I do, she may still catch it.
I am disgusted to be informed by the GP surgery that should she show symptoms, a GP will refuse to attend her at home. That I must nurse her
until she is struggling to breathe, that an ambulance is unlikely to attend because of her age, that she would not be testedfor COVID 19,
and that I will have to carry out her end of life care, therefore.
I also would no doubt contract
coronavirus with my flimsy
gloves and apron and mask.
And if I got sick, I would have
to continue to isolate and nurse
her on my knees because I
would receive no help or test
either
It is only a short while ago since
people like me were called
unskilled. Yet, I am skilled
  enough to be responsible for
  elderly people's lives and to
  deliver actual nursing care
  when they die.
I am safer than most, but all
my holidays are now cancelled
  at my own choice, there will
  be no days off for as long as
  this lockdown lasts because
  I cannot risk going far and
  bringing coronavirus back to
  her on my return. I will now
  work 24/7 until this thing
  is over. I cannot be with my
  children, and aside from some
  brief respite for a few hours
  twice a week ( provided by
relatives of my client one of
  which is also in the vulnerable
  group ). I am really alone. I
  do not have a manager
nor a ,team to support me and share
  this difficult time with.
I have received no calls from
  other healthcare professionals
  involved in my client's care,
  I have received nothing
  but empty platitudes and
  promises in emails from
  your department and other
  government agencies.
  There is little point giving me
  a badge for any reason. I am
  unable to go out shopping or
  to collect any so-called perks.

  because my client cannot be
left alone for more than a few
  minutes at a time. I do not need
  a badge. I need to know that
  my client and other colleagues
  are being well taken care of.
  As someone who has spent 15
years in social care with the
elderly, I cannot begin to tell
  you how unbearable it is for
  me to know that they are again
  being treated as if they have
  no value. This is not new. The
  government's attitude towards
our elderly has always been
this way, social care has been
  strangled, and privatised.

  We, of course, used to be part
  of the NHS. Now care homes
  are mostly run by private
individuals, who for too long
have paid their staff way too
little, expected way too much,
  and refused to spend adequate
  money to ensure there is
  enough staff in any care home
  to provide adequate levels of
  care. Our elderly have been
used as cash generators for
such people. Why must they
sell homes to pay for care,
  when they have paid into the
  system all of their lives, and
  what's more, when they die
the government helps itself
to their lives of hard work by
taking inheritance taxes from
their children. Our elders have
already paid for their care in
taxes and national insurance.
It is a shameful way to treat
them.

As for care homes, I can
only imagine the scenes my
colleagues are having to deal
with. Indeed these images
keep me awake in my bed
night after night.
We truly do care for all of
our clients, when one passes
away we feel very sad and we
mourn them, we have been
given more and more clinical
work to do, work that used to
be only a nurse ‘s job. We have
to do so much training that we
must surely all have at least
half a nursing degree by now.
The state has us doing clinical
work but doesn't want to allow
us to train as nurses. Nor does
it want to recognise that we do
one of the most important jobs
in this country, usually to our
detriment. The physical and
emotional toll on us is awful.
We cry we work 12-hour shifts
often for more than 6 days a
week, we are the lowest paid
in healthcare.
And, whilst we are on the
subject of nurses, how dare
you be willing to sacrifice
the lives of not only us but
our colleagues in the NHS.
The suggestion that PPE is
overused just highlights the
fact that you have no expertise
in this field and should not
be giving any advice, and the
advice you do give is beyond
ignorant and ill-advised.

It is perhaps time you allowed
a carer or a nurse to chair
your meetings and to take
the reigns. Even the lowest-
paid Healthcare assistant has
the skills and qualifications
needed to take charge of this
situation, and have the required
knowledge to do so.

When will this government
simply humble itself,
acknowledge it's mistakes, and
proceed to show our elderly,
our social care workers and the
NHS the respect and dignity
we all deserve?"

  Tammy Samede.
  Live-in Social Care Worker
  for the Elderly and Dementia.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNQjUNjHpnyzFED2ZRlY08ueE9xLC9j_/view

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