Value

For thirteen years they weakened us.
Cut doctors and nurses who treated us.
Devalued social workers who cared for us.

Bosses mocked and taunted us.
Self-employment became bogus.
Secure jobs – precarious.

Cyclists were turned into modern day pack horses.
Eight hours to zero they texted us.
In warehouses they tagged us.

For ten years we’ve had austerity
pushing us into poverty.
China became our factory.

Enough we know the value of unity.
Shelf stackers, truck drivers are key.
Cleaners, medics needed in an emergency.

Take back our identity.
See through their mendacity.
And stand in solidarity.

By Joy Johnson, Unite political department