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The WMCW May Day Message contrasts in general terms the winners and
losers from the global economic crisis, what is commonly being referred
to in these islands as the ‘credit crunch'. The starting point of the
May Message is, as a result of the crisis, the disparity between the
experience of ordinary workers and their families compared with that of
many, bonus receiving, CEOs and board members. Some ‘well to do' people
have made losses themselves but were more likely to have been in the
position of the decision making which has helped bring about the crisis anyway.
Globalisation and flexible working not too long ago as elevated as the panacea to opening up employment opportunities for all; higher GDPs for ountries with employment and good incomes for the people.
The MCW's ‘Reclaiming Time' Report (2006) highlighted however that many working people had, or were in danger of, being the losers rather than those that gained through the ‘freeing' of markets on a global scale to assist the flow of capital and goods. Our report noted that in fact this freeing' of the market had been built on the back of low pay, casualisation and contracting out of services. Particularly hard hit was the service sector workers, many of who would be women, for example cleaners, carers and caterers. The theme of our report was the long and many hours being worked during days and weekends. However a recent analysis has demonstrated that the longer hours worked in the UK can be more specifically attributed to weekend working. Nevertheless the message remains the same; people had to work harder and longer to make ends meet. Recent articles and books have given credence to our report findings and add weight to the May Day message.
Polly Toynbee in a Guardian article (3rd February 2009) adds to this theme by noting that ‘... In the good times globalisation increased GDP and we were meant to be proud. But who was feeling good? In the last few good years official figures show that 80% of earners saw very little real extra growth, with most winners in the top 10%.' She argues that the changes and freeing of the market was ‘artificially tilted' so that it was the employer who was more likely to benefit. For Toynbee, working longer and harder simply disguised the inequalities which existed: ‘The poor get globalised, the rich reap the reward.'
‘The Spirit Level' (Wilkinson & Pickett 2009) is the title of a recent book whose authors argue that every social problem whether it be crime, drugs, mental ill health or obesity has one ‘root cause': inequality. A simplified summary using one sentence from this book reads ‘In states [50 US] where income differentials were greatest, so were the social problems and lack of cohesion.' The overall message of this book is that it is not only the deprived that lose out but so do the better off. The loss here we suspect is of an entirely different degree and character but presumably is indicating that there is still an impact to be felt by all where an unequal society or unequal world exists.
In some way our Spirit level carries a similar significant meaning and belief in that to be holy we need to be whole and whilst some of our sisters and brothers are suffering then we cannot be truly whole. It remains our responsibility to engage and ork for change.
This Review as in our last edition contributes to a tribute to Jean Marie Leuwers. He made an enormous contribution to our Movement and will always be remembered for his short reflections about the signs of hope. He has devoted his life to working alongside and supporting individuals and communities who are more likely to be the losers.
Many of our MCW enquiries, regardless of the topic, have asked; who are the winners and who are the losers in this situation? This edition of the MCW Review brings this same question to thefore. Its importance lies just as much in the asking is in the answering.
By inviting the question we recognise the need to consider all the wider implications and the effects of both the everyday events which affect our lives and the wider context in which our lives and those of others are situated.
The answering of the question becomes the springboard in trying to understand the related issues as best and as deeply as possible. It is a springboard because, in trying to understand the issues, it is likely that more will be revealed spurring is on to a greater insight and appreciation of the differing and varied aspects involved.
Thus the significance of discovering the signs of hope in every encounter and engagement emerges and is almost ever present as we seek to discover who are the losers, raise awareness of why there are winners and losers and make our commitment of involvement for those signs of hope to be realised.
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