LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Support the struggle to protect our vital services

I’M one of many public/civil servants asking the public to support their key workers as we seek to drag the government from the dregs of degradation on pay, terms and conditions and redundancy matters so we can get a fair deal for all workers. When the trade unions achieve a pay rise for the public sector the private sector follows suit.

It should be noted that in the private sector I got £28pcm pay rise, which is ridiculous. All workers need a pay rise which is why the unions are fighting so hard now.

I support all my trade union colleagues as they take industrial action. I am one such individual taking action because I want to be able to continue serving my public. One of the most upsetting and startling things about the current wave of predictable industrial action is how they treat those who place themselves in harms’ way such as paramedics, NHS staff and firefighters.

Nobody wants to see a situation where a paramedic, NHS staff or a firefighter is needed but we need to ensure these folks are protected.

I implore you all to tell your councillors and Members of Parliament just how valued your key workers are, but make damn sure you say how valued paramedics/firefighters/NHS staff are.

Once the dedication of these public/civil servants is gone, especially those that seek to protect our society, there’s nobody else in the box to pop out and do the job and we will face a very grim future.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Unite the Union, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Unison and GMB are going to defend their workers to the hilt and I’ll be behind them every step of the way.

In support of us we’ll have the Rail, Maritime & Transport union (RMT), Communication & Workers Union (CWU) and others like ASLEF, TSSA and so many others so make sure you join in the struggle to keep your vital services going.

I want to say “thank you” to those who are on strike as they seek to protect us.

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