Why should workers accept pay cuts?

After years of falling real wages the share of wealth produced going to workers (ie the people who produced it) fell to an all time low by 2019.

Since the Covid slump real wages have sharply fallen further. Inflation has been driven by higher corporate profits and supply chain bottlenecks.

Yet up jumps Joan Lawrence (SA, November 15) to say that workers must meekly accept even more pay cuts. If workers don’t accept pay cuts, she complains, they will “help all prices go up again”.

The rich minority who got richer through crises will be grateful that there remains a section of the community whose servility and gullibility they can still rely on.

Company profits account for around 60 per cent of price rises while wages accounted for six per cent. Corporate greed is also fuelling inflation in the USA.

One partner in a company advising corporations advised, “when times are tough, screw your customers while the screwing is good!”

And went on, “I don’t think this is actually nefarious at all. Companies should charge what they can. Profit is the point of the whole exercise.”

We should give solidarity to those striking against cuts in pay and conditions, and celebrate the wider groups, nurses etc, who are joining that resistance.

Peter Smith

Woodside Avenue

Swindon

Support to face challenge of winter

Here at Royal Voluntary Service in Wiltshire, we are all too aware of the difficulties that many local readers might be facing as we head deeper into another challenging winter.

As a charity, we have recently undertaken research into how the current cost of living crisis is affecting the health and wellbeing of our communities, and the stark findings are a sobering reminder that there are some very vulnerable people out there.

With the support of our friends at Yakult, together we have created the Stay Safe Warm and Well guide, which is a handy booklet full of tips and advice to support people through the challenges of the winter ahead.

I would like to invite your readers to download or order a physical copy of the useful guide, by visiting: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/safe-warm-well or by calling us on 0800 731 9197.

The booklet includes vital information such as money saving tips, the latest NHS advice on flu and Covid, how to keep active and eat a healthy diet, how to ensure your home is gas safe, who to call in a power emergency, contacts for mental health support, and where to find essential NHS contact details.

If your readers find the content helpful, we’d like to encourage them to please also share the guide with a loved one, friend, neighbour, or anyone who might be looking for a little extra support at this time of year.

Sam Ward OBE,

Deputy CEO

Royal Voluntary Service

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