Right now councils around the West Midlands are implementing massive cuts to jobs and services services. These cuts will be devastating for the workers who lose their jobs, devastating for vulnerable people who rely on services, and damaging for the local economy.
While these cuts to services are made, in April this Tory-led government will implement a tax cut for people earning over £150,000. It is patently unfair to give high-earners tax cut while vulnerable people see vital services cut.
Ravi Subramanian, the UNISON West Midlands Regional Secretary has written to all 59 MPs in the region to ask them if they support this unfair tax cut and whether they will personally benefit. We will be publishing the result of our survey in early April. See below for the text of the letter
THE TEXT OF THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN SENT IS BELOW
THE TEXT OF THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN SENT IS BELOW
Tax cut for high-earners
After 6 April 2013, anyone earning above £150,000 will see a reduction in the tax they pay from 50p to 45p in the pound on their earnings above that point.
The 115,000 UNISON members in the West Midlands working across the public services have told us they think this tax cut is both unfair, divisive and damaging. Unfair and divisive because it means those with the biggest pockets are not paying their fair share. Damaging, because it means less income to the government and more austerity which in turn continues to damage the economic recovery.
UNISON are asking three questions of all MPs in the region and we will be letting our members know who has responded and what we find out. Our questions are:
1. Do you agree with the government policy to cut the top rate of tax from 50p to 45p in the pound?
2. Are you personally likely to benefit from this tax cut?
3. If you are likely to benefit do you intend to “pocket the gain” or will you being making a charitable donation equivalent to the gain you have made?
I would be grateful if you could reply by Tuesday 19 March as we will be collating the responses ready to inform our members of the outcome of our survey in early April when the tax cut comes into force.
Yours sincerely
Ravi Subramanian
Regional Secretary
END OF THE LETTER
