Ryan Aldred for St Peter and the Waterfront

27/07/2023

25/07/2023

“Bankers get given exorbitant pay and bonuses ‘to attract the best’ why don’t they have that same mentality with us health staff? Don’t they want the best radiographers, nurses, doctors or paramedics?”

It was great to speak to so many pickets of the Society of Radiographers this morning outside University Hospital Plymouth (Derriford).

Once again it’s the same problems told by another set of NHS workers. Pay is certainly an issue with pay dropping in real terms by nearly 25% since 2010. However, the real issues are terrible staff retention, consistently understaffed hospitals and ageing equipment that the government won’t pay for replacing and updating.

The SoR staff were determined and their picket was hugely supported by the public with every other car honking profusely.

20/07/2023

Proud to have stood in solidarity with and members today who are both taking strike action.

I’d also like to take the opportunity to express solidarity with BMA Consultants in the NHS who also began their strike action today.

We need a properly funded NHS, we need to keep our local radio stations and we need a safe railway that all members of the public can use.

TUSC would see railways renationalised, the NHS properly funded and an end to cuts to BBC funding.

07/07/2023

Labour by name Tory by policy, it’s time for a party of our own, it’s time for TUSC

05/07/2023

It was great to be stood with National Education Union members today who are striking in defence of education and for an above inflation pay offer after years of pay freezes.

It‘s important that parents stand in solidarity with the staff to show that they are supported so I was more than happy to be at ACE Bretonside with my daughter and I look forward to being out again on Friday (assuming the government don’t see sense by then).

24/06/2023

Proud to have managed to get into the discussion at today’s conference.

If the Tories think they can come for our right to strike we’ll unleash the full might of the trade union movement in opposition. If Keir “picket-dodging” Starmer thinks he can get away with treating the working class with determined indifference, he’ll not last very long.

It is vital that the name the day for a national demo to ratchet up the pressure in defence of our right to strike.

As an aside it was a proud dad moment to be joined at the rostrum by my daughter (somewhat pictured, she went all shy)

19/06/2023

You couldn’t make this up!

The Conservatives are trying to champion the cause of stopping excess sewage going into Plymouth Sound as a means to move along the Armada Way regeneration project.

What’s next? Boris Johnson becoming the new poster boy for truth and integrity? Perhaps Baroness Mone campaigning against corruption?

Plymouth’s residents would welcome a regeneration scheme that will revitalise the city but after the scandalous way Councillors have behaved up to this point it’s no wonder there’s a lack of trust in them.

What would really revitalise the city would be the defence of Public Services and an end to the tens of millions of cuts implemented by both Tory and Labour administrations.