THE Covid crisis has exposed the need to fight for jobs and pay, Britain’s communists have said.

In an online meeting at the weekend, Communist Party trade-union organiser Andy Bain told its executive committee that it was essential that capitalism’s huge threat to jobs was challenged at national and local levels by the trade-union movement.

He urged trade unions, trades councils, Unite community branches, People’s Assembly and other anti-cuts organisations, Morning Star groups and political parties to come together in local campaigns to defend and demand jobs.

In particular, he called upon unions to make office space and facilities available to broad-based anti-unemployment initiatives. 

“The labour movement must adopt a positive stance on saving and creating jobs, calling for the green new deal to create jobs and apprenticeships,” Mr Bain said, insisting that trade and investment sanctions against China would make the gathering economic recession even worse. 

Local struggles against proposed redundancies are likely to break out across England, Scotland and Wales, giving rise to a growing demand for co-ordination and leadership, he said.

“The idea of a people’s march for jobs and social justice in spring 2021 is beginning to spread across the working-class movement and should be encouraged as informal discussions gather pace,” Mr Bain said.

Britain’s communists also welcomed marches by NHS staff in Scotland, Wales and England in support of an immediate wage increase.

“Most NHS staff have received only a derisory pay rise this year despite their heroic sacrifices in the fight against Covid-19,“ general secretary Robert Griffiths declared.

The party executive also called for the full and permanent abolition of hospital car-park fees for all NHS staff in England and Scotland, following the example set by the Welsh Labour government.