The Socialist 12 July 2007

Fighting low pay, defending jobs and services

Victory to the postal workers

Public support for Post Office counters strike

Bob Crow calls for new party

National Shop Stewards Network conference: A good starting point for strengthening struggle

TGWU/Unite conference delegates cheer call for action on anti-trade union laws

Urgent appeal for solidarity from contract workers at the Gualberto Villarroel oil refinery in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Action needed to save the NHS

Campaign saves Swansea hospital unit

Sussex must fight back against NHS cuts

Durham health cuts show need for new workers' party

Wales Assembly coalition no answer to workers' problems

Cardiff: Fight school cuts and closures

Nurseries campaign embarrasses councillors

Southall Labour councillors cross floor

Council workers make a stand

The 'July days' - rich in lessons for today

London Underground derailment: Kick out dangerous profiteers!

Kwik Save workers betrayed by bosses and union

Socialist Party Youth and students

Political discourse can swing!

South Africa: union leaders call off biggest-ever strike

Slave-labour scandal in China

Previous issues, etc

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Kwik Save workers betrayed by bosses and union

SHOPWORKERS' UNION USDAW have proclaimed 11 July as 'Respect for Shopworkers' Day'. It is part of their campaign to prevent violence and abuse against shop workers. But one group of shop workers have been dealt a heavy blow - by the bosses.

Alison Hill

Hundreds of USDAW members working for Kwik Save were thrown on the dole as the company went into administration. 56 stores will be transferred to a new company and the remaining 90+ stores have closed.

The workers made redundant on 5 July will join those from the 81 stores closed in June. These 1,100 workers will have to fight for redundancy payments from the administrators KPMG.

When Kwik Save's inability to compete with its low-cost rivals reached crisis point six weeks ago, the union did not organise strike action to demand that the workers be paid. Unbelievably, they encouraged the workers to work for nothing, to "try to keep the company alive".

Most of the workers endured great hardship during this period and all they have to look forward to now is a paltry redundancy payment - if they're lucky.

USDAW's approach of entering into 'partnership' agreements with big business has backfired on them again. The Kwik Save debacle follows on closely behind 400 USDAW members being made redundant from Tesco's Milton Keynes Distribution Centre. USDAW has a partnership agreement with Tesco.

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Fighting low pay, defending jobs and services