Iain Dalton, socialist member in Usdaw, secretary of Usdaw Broad Left
When general secretary Joanne Thomas, the union’s first female leader, took office last summer with the blessing of outgoing general secretary Paddy Lillis, there was an expectation by the union leadership that Usdaw’s close relationship with Starmer’s Labour and partnership approach to the big retailers would continue.
But both these relationships have come under strain as employers have sought to boost their profits at the expense of workers, as another economic crisis looms.
Usdaw members have taken six days of strike against fire and rehire at Tetrosyl, a car care products manufacturer in Rochdale. Joanne Thomas was on the picket line talking about the union exercising its industrial muscle.
Morrisons bosses’ refusal to offer a pay rise saw 97% of Usdaw members vote to reject and, facing the possibility of strike action, the company has now made an offer members are balloting on (see below). Eddie Stobart drivers on a Morrisons contract were also balloted earlier this year for strike action, whilst 200 job losses at Morrisons head office have been announced.
Usdaw members want a fight, not partnership. The £65-a-week strike pay is utterly inadequate and there are no facilities to establish a hardship fund. As well as campaigning strongly for successful strike ballots, Usdaw must demand the repeal of the 50% turnout threshold.
After the Gorton and Denton by-election, an Usdaw press release quoted Joanne Thomas saying: “A majority of voters there do not feel that the Labour government is providing the change they need.”
In March, she criticised the suggestion that the government may not enact a guaranteed right to a contract that reflects the hours a worker normally works. She said in a published letter to Keir Starmer: “You spoke at our conference in 2024, and told our members that there would be no watering down of the New Deal for Workers. Our members listened to that message and they believed it. They campaigned for you, they voted for you, and they expect you to keep your promise. As things currently stand, I cannot in good faith tell those members that you will do so.”
But in an interview in Network, Usdaw’s magazine for reps, she said: “I think you’ve got to be very careful about grandstanding and criticism of the Labour Party when we’re also trying to tackle the far right and Reform. If you’re telling people how bad Labour are, they’re going to start thinking that Reform might be the better option.”
That’s why the Socialist Party advocates that Usdaw backs candidates that back union policies, rather than putting forward no alternative.
Usdaw maintains a parliamentary group of 58 Labour MPs, but only eight put their names to an amendment against Labour’s disability benefit cuts, and only three actually voted against the cuts. Not a single member of Usdaw’s parliamentary group voted to abolish the two-child benefit cap, despite a mandate from the union’s ADM that year.
A parliamentary group would make the most impact for members if it was made up of MPs prepared to fight for Usdaw’s policies on every crucial issue. Socialist Party members argue to reconstitute our parliamentary group on that basis, as well as campaigning for a conference of trade unions to discuss the crisis of political representation the working class faces.
Vote ‘No’ to Morrisons pay offer
After 97% of Usdaw members rejected Morrisons’ ‘non-offer’ last year, the company has offered just over 7% spread over two years: 10p above minimum wage straight away, 29p in July, and finally 40p, as well as a one-off payment of up to £175.
Members will feel that their vote has forced the company to move. But with predictions of food and energy prices soaring, this will be below inflation, and is less than other supermarkets. Tesco and Sainsbury’s both offered more than 10% over two years.
Morrisons’ pay is subject to binding arbitration and Usdaw’s negotiators are recommending acceptance. We say vote ‘No’ – even a minority ‘no’ vote would send a message to management for next year.
