Page 21 - Spring 2015
Basic HTML Version
NHS. This doesn’t stop at A&E. We all need the
health service at some time in our lives. Trans people
who want to transition may need it quite intensively.
It comes down, in the end, to there being enough
doctors, nurses and support staff. We should have
nothing but praise for our NHS workers – many
of whom have come from abroad – and if we want
the service to meet its demands, it has to be funded
sufficiently.
We’re told that the economy is recovering faster than
anywhere else and there are loads of new jobs around
– basically, it’s your own fault if you’re unemployed.
Yes, there are more jobs, but as the TUC has been
arguing, having a job is not the same as having a job
you can live off. If you’re employed on a zero hours
contract or can only find work through an agency, or
if you are earning only the national minimum wage,
it’s quite likely that you won’t earn enough to raise a
deposit or pay the rent, or stock up on food, or cover
your fares to work (or buy this magazine).
In workplaces, a ground breaking mass study
published last year confirmed that LGB workers are
two and a half times more likely to face harassment
than non-LGB workers, and this is a finding that
ought to raise concern about the true progress
towards acceptance of our sexuality in wider society.
Trade unions want to do something about this – will
the government?
Of course, in the past, if you faced discrimination
at work you could take a claim to an Employment
Tribunal. Now, as a result of austerity, you can still
do so – but only if you cough up a large fee first. No
wonder the number of claims across the board has
collapsed. Trade unions argue that justice should be
available for all but if you can’t afford it, then it’s
only available to the people with the money.
There are lots of other areas of our lives where
national political decisions have an impact and
whoever walks into 10 Downing Street on 8 May
this year, the unions will continue to support their
members – the “ordinary” working people who
make Britain’s economy run, and who staff the NHS
and our other public services – and to campaign
for equality and social justice. But that challenge
is much easier if the government we elect follows
policies that promote positive changes rather than
making problems worse.
If none of the issues I’ve mentioned here affect you,
or if you don’t see it as being your responsibility to
lend a hand to other members of our communities
who do need help, then of course you can ignore the
fact there is a general election on 7 May. But if that
isn’t the case, make sure you’re registered to vote,
challenge politicians to say what they’ll do about
these issues, and use your vote.
Peter Purton, LGBT/Disability officer, Trades Union
Congress.
21
