John Williams, Cardiff Central Socialist Party and hospitality worker
Many of us like a pint or two in the week and enjoy going to our local pub for a good catch up with friends and family, and maybe a dance! So much so, the hospitality industry contributes roughly £93 billion to the British economy annually. But community pubs are struggling. Last year over 300 pubs closed permanently in England and Wales. Over 4,500 jobs were lost, according to British Beer and Pub Association research. And things don’t look to be getting any better.
Hospitality industry bodies have warned that the increase in National Insurance contributions and a reduction in rates relief could potentially have a devastating effect on jobs, with over 70% surveyed saying that job losses are on the cards.
There has been a low level of trade union organisation amongst hospitality workers in the UK (so far!). Only 33,000 hospitality workers are in a union, although unions such as Unite, through its hospitality combine, the GMB, BFAWU and others are recruiting more hospitality workers. Nevertheless, if jobs are to be massacred, unions must lead the way with a fighting strategy to save them.
If any hospitality business announces job losses because of these changes, then the unions should demand they open their financial books to scrutiny from democratic representatives of workers. Let’s see how much money they’re making and more importantly where its going! There’s no reason why the bigger businesses can’t be nationalised to save all jobs, invest the money needed or be refitted to provide a service workers and the local community actually want.
Smaller businesses who genuinely can’t afford it could be given interest-free loans from the state. We oppose making it financially more difficult for smaller businesses, while Starmer’s Labour protects the interest of the super-rich and big business.
Workers’ rights bill
Labour’s Employment Rights Bill has reforms that would genuinely help hospitality workers in their ability to fight back against the bosses’ offensive and for their rights at work. But Starmer’s Labour have kicked the can down the road, to allow big business to lobby and attempt to water down the bill. It could be at least a year until it becomes law. Too late for hospitality workers facing the sack, zero-hour contracts, or firing and rehiring on worse terms and conditions now.
Hospitality workers are still one of the lowest paid in the UK economy, and among the least unionised. Increases to the minimum wage to £12.21 an hour this year fall far short of what workers need to live on. It’s miles off the TUC (Trades Union Congress) demand for £15 an hour. Capitalism is in crisis and, to maintain their profits, bosses are preparing to go on the offensive. If they go down the road of brutal job losses or rolling back on pay and conditions, I’m optimistic that new layers in the hospitality industry are prepared to stand up and fight back. And if the unions are there with a fighting alternative then they can be won to take part in the collective, working-class action needed to push back the bosses.
