Values
Unite's Joy Johnson's hard-hitting commentary in poetry
Reading time: 2 min
For ten years they starved us
cut doctors and nurses who treated us
devalued social workers who cared for us
bosses mocked and taunted us
you work with us not for us
self employment became bogus
secure jobs became precarious
cyclists modern day pack horses
eight hours to zero they texted us
in warehouses they tagged us
we were made to feel worthless
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 this emergency
Take back our identity
see through their mendacity
comrades express solidarity
And stand with humanity
- Joy Johnson works in Unite’s political department
