Coming on top of the cuts already made by the Coalition government over the past five years, these new cuts will massively increase the misery and hardship being experienced by some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society. They will also increase the pressure on social workers and social care workers seeking to support these people.
There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from these additional cuts. They are a deliberate attempt to further undermine the post-war welfare state and to pave the way for yet more privatization.
In the words of our Hungarian social work colleagues we believe that social work should be ‘a professional community that is not afraid to stand up for those in need’.
We therefore call on SWAN groups to join with other trade unionists, service user groups and campaigning organisations to support both local and national protests on 8th July and urge other social work organisations to do the same.
Our website will be regularly updated as details of local action are developed. Please watch this space.”