As the Chancellor prepares to deliver her Spring Statement, a trade union leader has urged her not to betray public sector workers by inflicting cuts to pay and services.
During the pandemic, firefighters delivered medicine, drove ambulances and moved the bodies of the dead. Millions of workers remained at work, keeping the country running.
Steve Wright, leader of the Fire Brigades Union, said that, as we mark the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, “cutting billions of pounds from welfare and public services would be an insult to these covid heroes. Instead, the Chancellor must use the Spring statement to introduce a wealth tax to fund public services and pay.”
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
Cuts in the Chancellor's spring statement will cause severe hardship for the frontline workers who risked their lives to keep public services going at the height of the pandemic.
Five years ago, people lined the streets to clap the emergency workers who cared for the sick and most vulnerable following the outbreak of covid
Firefighters were among the 'covid heroes' who risked their own safety long before the availability of a vaccine.
FBU members were on the frontline delivering emergency supplies, driving ambulances and even moving dead bodies in the most tragic of circumstances.
However, as we mark the fifth anniversary of the Covid outbreak, the Chancellor intends to impose cuts on the workers who Britain clapped for their heroism.
Many of these workers are in receipt of income support and other benefits. They will suffer from any cuts made by the Chancellor.
Cutting billions of pounds from welfare and public services would be an insult to these covid heroes.
Instead, the Chancellor must use the Spring statement to introduce a wealth tax to fund public services and pay.
The FBU will fiercely resist inflicting austerity on Britain's covid heroes."
