the Activist

Issue 56
ADM 2015 Special

Bulletin of Socialist Party members in

Stop the Supermarket Bosses
Making Us Pay for Their Mistakes
The past year has been a
bruising one for retail and distribution workers. One supermarket company after another
has faced a crisis while high
street shop closures have
failed to significantly slow.

What will the General Election

mean for USDAW members?
An Activist fringe meeting
6pm, Sunday 26th April
Britannia Room, Ruskin Hotel, Albert Rd, FY1 4PW

Retail workers still aren't paid Chair, Amy Murphy, USDAW EC member
a living wage while our terms, (personal capacity)
conditions and pensions are
under attack.
weaker 8 an hour by 2020 longer be used to build new
pledge.
supermarkets.
This impression is backed up
by survey figures quoted in Labour also says it will abolish Retail workers should stand
the 'Cost of Living Crisis' docu- only 'exploitative' zero-hour firm and refuse to suffer as a
ment being presented to Us- contracts - rather than ban- consequence of the retail
daw's 2015 Annual Delegate ning them altogether.
bosses' mistakes. The support
Meeting (ADM) in Blackpool.
for this position was demonIn a climate where major su- strated by the 45% of the vote
Only 5% of respondents feel permarkets face multiple cri- won by Socialist Party member
better off compared to five ses, financial fiddling as well Amy Murphy in the recent
years ago. 31% have had their as new challenges in the presidential elections.
working hours cut and a mea- online and discount sectors,
sly 8% have had pay rises that this may seem far off.
Usdaw's official opposition to
keep up with inflation.
pension changes in Tesco is
But despite the headline fig- welcome. But this shouldn't
29% struggle to pay their bills ures, the supermarkets still just remain a negotiating
every month, 52% occasion- control the overwhelming ma- stance, but be taken to its
ally struggle and 21% regu- jority of the food retail market logical conclusion of a public
larly go without meals. No and are profitable. Losses due and industrial campaign.
wonder there are reports of to one-off write-downs are besupermarket workers using ing used to justify forcing We need to campaign for a
food banks.
through attacks on our condi- living wage for all retail and
distribution and fight to detions.
Yet Usdaw's response has
fend and improve our existing
been insufficient. Despite sup- For example, Tesco made an terms and conditions. Doing so
porting the call at the TUC operating profit of over a can also help Usdaw recruit
congress last year for a 10 an 1bn, whereas its reported the two million unorganised
hour minimum wage, our lead- losses are mostly due to a retail workers.
ers in the document come out 7bn writedown of the value
in support of Labour's far of property which will no
Find out more: usdawactivist.wordpress.com / usdawactivist@gmail.com / Facebook: Usdaw Activist

Bulletin of Socialist Party members in USDAW

Usdaw Branch Secretary Stands for TUSC Activists Guide to ADM

In the general election this year,
the Trade Unionist & Socialist
Coalition (TUSC) is the sixth biggest party standing, fielding 135
candidates across the country.
Despite having our first ever national party political broadcast
aired on all the major TV channels, TUSC may still be the biggest party youve never heard
of!
This wont be for long however
as Labour, the union Usdaw is
affiliated to, have promised to
continue to Tory austerity,
many will look to an alternative,
an alternative that TUSC is laying the foundations for.

Scott Jones, TUSC candidate for Llanelli

The Activist is pleased to see an

increased number of very positive
propositions and amendments on
the interim agenda for ADM. The
propositions on State Benefit
Smartcards, opposing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), abortion rights, nostrike agreements, Education Maintenance Allowance, Nationalising
Deep Pit Coal Mines, Communication are amongst a whole raft of
propositions we believe union members should support.

ions they do so with one hand

tied behind their backs. We
need a political alternative that
unashamedly fights for and supports working class people and
our organisations.

We would particularly argue for

support for the amendment on
wages rises from Llanelli branch
which calls on Usdaw to campaign
for a 10 an hour minimum wage.
Given the Usdaw delegation voted
to support this demand at the TUC
I am running as one of those This is shown clearly over pay. congress last year it is a very reacandidates in Llanelli and we It is TUC policy to fight for 10 sonable amendment.

have two other candidates who

were until recently Usdaw reps
in South Wales alone. The sitting MP for Llanelli is Labours
Nia Griffith who is part of the
Usdaw group of MPs but her
voting record in parliament isnt
a record of support for retail
workers and trade unions and
as branch secretary of my Usdaw branch for the past year
she hasnt been in touch once
to offer support for our campaigns or solidarity in the many
struggles we are facing.
I am standing because I believe
the Labour Party is no longer a
party of Labour and that affiliation to Labour is a millstone
around the necks of the unions
that are affiliated. Even the unions who arent affiliated suffer
because whilst they fight harder
than the Labour supporting un-

per hour, a policy shared by

TUSC. However, Labour pledges
a measly 8 per hour in 5 years
time! Moreover Labour pledges
only to cap rent and fuel price
rises, not the already exorbitant
levels they are already at.

However, the Usdaw leaderships

support for Labours very weak proposal of 8 an hour, and only in
2020 may lead them to strenuously
oppose this.
Delegates should also note that the
annual report states that the union
is once again in a multi-million
pound surplus for the year, and
may question why S1 is being increased again. Also, delegates may
wish to query why yet another International trip (pg 44) has not
been properly reported to members

TUSC is taking huge strides forward in this election and is placing itself in a position to play a
major role in the changes that
will take place in the next five
years, when workers and unions
alike face up to the prospect that a new workers
party is needed, as a supermarket worker, Usdaw 9th annual conference takes place on
rep and TUSC candidate I Saturday 4th July, Conway Hall 25 Red
Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
urge you to get on board
11am-4.30am
with us, vote TUSC where
Speakers include:
you can but also help us Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary;
build a real alternative for Ronnie Draper, BFAWU General Secretary
the future.
See www.shopstewards.net for info

Find out more: usdawactivist.wordpress.com / usdawactivist@gmail.com / Facebook: Usdaw Activist