Latest editorial
We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
Union support makes all the difference for social workers
These are tough times for public service workers who work in or are funded by Scottish councils, writes KATE RAMSDEN, but with the support of Unison they’ve been emboldened to act
Trump’s economic adviser has exposed the actual strategy: forcing other countries to provide financial support for US world hegemony
Activist Angie Zelter has been arrested more than a hundred times. She’s not stopping now, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
Natalia Marques looks at last week's ruling that Khalil can be deported and its implications
We are not here to advocate for the arms industry or its CEOs, writes STEVE HANDFORD, and that means we must take a stand against the government’s spending on war
As Labour mimics Tory welfare cuts while ignoring crumbling schools, educators must collectively resist the government's priorities and fight for an inclusive, creative system that values all children, writes NEU president SARAH KILPATRICK
Although our sector is hearing better things from the current government, the recognition that what we do is education in its own right, rather than just childcare, is still not reflected in policy, writes LUCY COLEMAN
I MET a social worker friend of mine the other day. I hadn’t seen her for some time but knew her when she first became a social worker — enthusiastic, committed, determined to make the difference that she no doubt has.
But she told me that she’d had it with local authority social work. She is working a 70-hour week most weeks just to get through the work. She’s exhausted, has no work-life balance and is losing touch with friends because she is always too tired to socialise.
And I thought to myself — this is the hidden impact of austerity in Scotland — of the cuts to public services. The unseen consequences of asking so many public service workers to do more with less. And we’re ripe for exploitation since so many of us choose to work in public services because we want to help people — whether in social work like my friend and I, or in the myriad of other key professions and roles covered by the umbrella “public services.”
More from this author
From the ‘motherhood pay penalty’ to low-paid care work, the Morning Star Women’s Readers and Supporters Group in Scotland has been looking at how neoliberalism has been pushing back women’s hard-won gains, writes KATE RAMSDEN
KATE RAMSDEN calls out the SNP’s political choices, citing STUC research showing billions could be raised through progressive taxation to fund vital social work and care — instead, we’re being threatened with more cuts
KATE RAMSDEN explains why Scottish women decided to set up a women's RSG and invites all sisters to attend its next webinar on Tuesday
Properly funded public services are good for the economy as a whole, says KATE RAMSDEN
