Bulletin of Socialist Party members in Open Letter: USDAW needs an active campaign against workfare

Below we circulate an open letter issued by Robbie Segal, a supporter of the Activist who is a member of USDAW national executive committee for the Southern Region. We call on supporters of the Activist to sign the petition, circulate it throughout the union as well as building links with those organisations campaigning against workfare. The letter can be signed at http://www.ipetitions.com/ petition/usdawandworkfare/ Dear USDAW executive, I am writing to you about the Mandatory Work Programme and Work Experience schemes that have been in the news which both include making the unemployed work for their dole. Many of the companies taking part are in the retail sector, including companies such as Tesco, Primark and Boots.

the Activist

Issue 31 Workfare Special

USDAW must join unemployed activists in actively campaigning against workfare

Just some of the retail While I welcome the union opposing the forced nature companies taking part in of these schemes, demanding that such experience workfare

pays the rate for the job and discussions with companies our union has agreements with about their involvement, this unfortunately will not be enough. Although Tesco and other companies have pulled out, without an active campaign to organise our members against this threat they and the Tories could try again later on. We need to produce information for our unions activists on why this is a threat, as well as linking up with others such as Unemployed Workers Centres and Youth Fight for Jobs to develop a mass campaign. This should include supporting protests outside stores taking part in these schemes. Yours, Robbie Segal, USDAW EC member

Tesco, Primark, Boots, Burton, BHS, WH Smiths, Asda, Holland & Barrett, Topshop, Wilkinsons ...And those who have pulled out or suspended involvement in some of the schemes Sainsburys, 99p Stores, Waterstones, Poundland, Superdrug, Matalan, Maplin, Argos, Tk Maxx

6th annual conference takes place on Saturday 9th June, Friends Meeting House, Euston Rd, London - 11am-4pm See www.shopstewards.net for info

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Bulletin of Socialist Party members in USDAW

A Strategy for USDAW to Fight Workfare

Over the past week there is a growing national outrage over the governments work programme schemes which include forcing those on Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) into placements of up to 30 hours a week for a period of up to 2 months, where they will not receive any payment except the continuation of their JSA. Given that the bulk of the companies who have signed up to this deal are in the retail sector, this amounts to a frightful exploitation of potential future members of our union, as well as an attack on the terms and conditions of our current members. Such schemes could be the thin end of the wedge in attempting to undermine our members terms and conditions by using the threat of bringing in a free workforce to replace paid jobs. This was spelled out in leaked minutes of the DWPs social security advisory committee in an article in the Guardian on Friday 24th February. These stated that '"Many retail jobs required staff to work for 16 hours each week, with overtime payable for any hours worked beyond that. Work experience allowed for 25 hours work activity, so overtime to permanent staff was being reduced or removed," and that "There was also evidence to suggest that work experience placements were being taken on to cover Christmas vacancies."' Whilst the Activist welcomes the stance our union has taken in demanding that anyone gaining work experience should get the rate for the job and such placements should not be mandatory, as well as taking steps to discuss these matters with companies where the union has agreements with them, this unfortunately will not be enough to stop such schemes. Despite our unions success in increasing our membership in the recent period, the vast majority of retail workers remain unorganised. USDAW must mount an active campaign on this issue, producing information and briefings for our activists on why this is a threat, as well as linking up with others such as Unemployed Workers Centres and Youth Fight for Jobs. union, as USDAW would be seen to be taking up an issue directly affecting our members and their families. Additionally, if USDAW representatives were to speak at the protests that are taking place outside retail stores, then it would help build links with young people who will be the retail workers of the future. It could even give our unions inroads of membership into companies where we are not established, helping to drive up terms and conditions across the sector. The retail sector has a large proportion of young people working within. Being seen to take up an issue that actively affects this layer can only be a good thing, which will help reestablish the relevance of trade unions to a generation who are less aware of the value of workplace organisation than in the past. It would also build on the unions success in abolishing youth rates in Tesco, Morrisons and the Co-op in making clear we are a union that fights for the future of our youth. The union must urgently build upon this and develop a charter for young retail workers.

Supporters of the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign will be lobbying the union leadership in the near future, seeking to help build links between retail workers and the unemployed that can only strengthen our Youth Fight for Jobs protest against Such a course of action would unions campaigning activities in Boots participation in workfare help with recruitment to the the future.
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