Socialist Party members in Usdaw
Following the announcement that the two senior elected officials in retail and distribution union Usdaw, general secretary Paddy Lillis and deputy general secretary Dave McCrossen, are both retiring in July, the Usdaw Broad Left met to discuss its approach to the elections.
The Broad Left has decided to write an open letter to both general secretary candidates to ask where they stand on the key issues (see below) and to stand Socialist Party member Scott Jones in the deputy general secretary election.
The campaign will enable us to put forward the fighting programme that members desperately need. With no incumbent candidates standing in these elections, the debate about the future of the union will be vital.
Scott is standing on the following Broad Left programme:
- Defend terms and conditions, as well as fighting for at least a £15-an-hour minimum wage, and to end lower youth rates of pay
- Fight store closures and job losses, up to and including campaigning for nationalisation to save jobs
- Organise the unorganised, build vibrant campaigns on pay and working conditions to organise workers in the discounters and gig economy
- No to ‘partnership approaches’ which only benefit the bosses – restore the right of members to vote on pay offers in Tesco retail
- For a democratic and accountable union – publish regular comprehensive executive council reports accessible to all members
- For a DGS on a worker’s wage
- For an anti-austerity political voice for workers. Fight for an anti-austerity strategy against the retreats of Starmer and the Blairites
Nominations are open now and end on 11 April. Scott’s nomination details are: Name Scott Jones, membership number 01512958, branch C160.
- For more information search Usdaw Broad Left on social media.
- Read more : ‘Usdaw elections: A chance to transform the union’
