Socialist Party members in Usdaw
Clerical and ancillary staff in the GMB union, working for the retail union Usdaw, took their fifth and sixth days of strike action on 21 and 22 November.
The action is due to a below-inflation 3.5% pay offer from Usdaw’s leadership, and the continued refusal to engage in negotiations about hybrid working – despite encouraging staff not involved in the strike to work from home on the strike days!
On two previous strike days, the strikes finished at midday, but disgracefully Usdaw’s leadership locked them out for the rest of the day.
Gradually more members are becoming aware of the issues. Questions have now been raised at a number of union events, and several members of Usdaw’s Broad Left, including former Usdaw president Amy Murphy, have joined GMB picket lines.
Further strike action is planned for 12 and 13 December, with a demonstration on the Tuesday.
- Socialist Party member Scott Jones won nominations to stand for Usdaw general secretary from several branches who want a democratic, fighting leadership. The union should pay its staff decent wages and build for serious action to win substantial pay rises for its low-paid members.
