Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/701/13522
From The Socialist newspaper, 18 January 2012
John Lewis economy: another fantasy from Corporal Clegg
Elaine Brunskill
Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has outlined his vision of a 'John Lewis economy' saying that businesses owned by their staff are more dynamic and have higher morale.
For former factory workers in a Carlisle textile and dyeing company, this must sound like a sick joke.
The factory had been part of the John Lewis Partnership since 1965, and many of the workers had been there for decades. However, the 'partnership' decided the factory was no longer viable and had to be sold on. One of the workers explained to us that John Lewis called a consultation meeting, but "We were textile workers up against professionals. I asked the personnel head: If we are all co-owners, what part of the business do we own? He replied: 'Tough decisions have to be made.'"
The factory was sold on to Stead McAlpin, and in April 2009 60 of the workers were sacked, but did not receive the enhanced redundancy payments they would have been entitled to if they'd still worked for John Lewis.
At the time of being sacked the workers told us that John Lewis always referred to the partnership as a democracy: "but it was only a democracy until their profits were threatened - then there was an inner steel ring to defend: big pensions; big salaries and big pay-offs for the bosses."
If this is the best vision of capitalism on offer for workers it's time to look for an alternative!
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In The Socialist 18 January 2012:
Anti-cuts campaign
Pensions attacks can still be defeated
Labour leadership approves the Con-Dem cuts
Cameron's attack on Scottish independence referendum backfires
Welfare Reform Bill:- Lords compromise is no victory
Ofsted: "requires improvement"
John Lewis economy: another fantasy from Corporal Clegg
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Keep private vultures out of our NHS!
Youth fight for jobs
End the slave labour culture of workfare
Socialist Party workplace news
Electricians' national meeting plans next steps in battle against pay cut
Unilever workers say hands off our pensions
South Yorkshire Stagecoach bus drivers take eighth day of strike action
Doctors support call for action
Obituary
Rob Windsor: socialist fighter and Coventry Socialist Party councillor 1964-2012
Socialist Party feature
1972 Derry - "this was murder"
Socialist Party campaigns
EDL intimidation fails in Barking
Save community schools - no to academies
Protect women's rights - oppose the abstinence bill
International socialist news and analysis
Greece: Non-payment movement against new housing tax
Irish 'poll tax' battle has begun
Nigeria: Fuel strike suspended
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