Page 2 - Journal dec2017
P. 2
Editorial
Branch Contacts:
We hear frequent reports of rising inequality these days. Inequality
Main Branch Office:
CWU Room, Mail Centre, Padge Road, happens in many areas, but generally it is being used to describe the
Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 2RR difference in remuneration, income and peoples living standards.
The CWU’s Four Pillars campaign touches on this, as ordinary workers are
General Enquiries: expected to follow the trend of diminished terms and conditions, and poorer
(0115) 9518362
pension provision, whilst those at the top receive ever more. The so-called gig
Legal Services Enquiries: economy—which is based on the massive growth in bogus self employed
(0115) 9518361 contracts over recent years—plays a part in this, allowing unscrupulous
employers to exploit their workforce, whilst pocketing the lion’s share of
Mark Harper, Secretary. profits. Meanwhile the opportunities for social mobility are becoming stunted.
Mobile: 07714 403482
Indeed, recently the entire social mobility team (headed by Labour’s Alan
Trish Howell, Assistant Secretary. Milburn, but cross party nonetheless) resigned. They said it was due to ‘lack
Phone: 0115 9518309
of political leadership’.
Simon Edmunds, Chairperson. The recent Paradise Papers scandal has shown, as did the Panama
Mobile: 07973 613561 Papers last year, the extent to which certain rich people hide their assets, in
Chris Kerry, Legal Services Secretary. an attempt to limit the amount of tax they pay. Her Majesty’s Revenue and
Mobile: 07887 414108 Customs reckons the ‘Tax Gap’ (the gap between how much tax is collected,
Ian Pointer, Area Delivery Rep. and how much they think should be collected) to be around £30 to £35 billion
Mobile: 07887 414106 per year (incidentally this figure has remained much the same for at least a
decade, suggesting that not a lot is being done about it despite claims by the
Frank Bolger, Area Processing Rep.
Mobile: 07973 613261 government to address the issue of non-paid tax). Other agencies reckon the
gap to be closer to £120 billion, partly as the HMRC does not include the
Tony Cecil, Area Distribution Rep.
Mobile: 07875 269325 international profit-shifting techniques used by many multinational companies.
This means that ordinary people, already suffering from wage stagnation,
Chris Kerry, Area Safety Rep. have to pay more tax to help make up the shortfall.
Mobile: 07887 414108
In his budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond refused to allow the £4 billion
Chris Johnson, Parcels Rep. requested for the NHS by Simon Stevens, head of the NHS England. £4
Mobile: 07811 182710 billion sounds like a lot of money, but when you put it in context of the £30 to
Sue Treheame, Area Counters Rep. £120 billion tax gap it is seen to be rather small.
Mobile: 07785 460382 Even the IMF (International Monetary Fund) said “Higher income tax rates
Des Gibbons, Equality Officer. for the rich would help reduce inequality without having an adverse impact on
Mobile: 07576 616656 growth”, countering the prevalent
argument why taxes on top
Trish Howell, Women’s Officer.
Phone: 0115 9518309 earners should not be increased.
Just think how well our much-
Steve Bosworth, Young Workers Officer.
Mobile: 07540 399134 needed public services—which we
all rely on and benefit from—could
Lynn Lambert, Political Officer. function if only all this tax were
Phone: 0115 9518362
paid and there was not this great
Linford Gibbons, Black & Minority Ethnic divide. Clement Attlee, Prime Minister after
Officer. the Second World War and overseen
Mobile: 07429 504974 Lynn Lambert
Joint Editor. the creation of the welfare state, NHS
Rex Garland, Retried Member’s and nationalisation of key utilities and
Secretary. industries.
Phone: 0115 9518362
Dave Wagstaff, Union Learning Rep. Articles published in ‘The Journal’ do not necessarily reflect policy of the
Mobile: 07938 998542 CWU nationally or locally and publication of advertisements does not imply
recommendation.
2 \ The Journal
