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From The Socialist newspaper, 1 March 2017
Warehouse workers walk out over pay and pensions
Picket Line photo Isabelle Grant (Click to enlarge)
Isabelle Grant, Leeds Socialist Party
GMB members at Spectrum for Arcadia in Leeds are on strike over pay. Over 70 joined the picket lines on 24 February.
The employers are using the excuse of the introduction of the Tories' 'living wage' to refuse to give any increase to those members of staff on that rate.
Not only that, but these staff are also not allowed to pay into the higher contribution pension payment scheme even though some of them have been working in the warehouse for over 30 years.
The Arcadia group were the former owners of BHS, and asset-stripped the retail chain. Some of the same mistakes are being made again - merging of brands, underfunding of equipment and staff being expected to fix it when it breaks. Additionally the work is actually operated by logistics contractor DHL, which, like many distribution centres, uses agency labour, often on a much more insecure basis than permanent staff.
And for these failings it won't be Arcadia group owner Sir Philip Green that will pay the price - like at BHS, it will be the workers.
The Socialist Party calls for an end to low pay at Spectrum, no to a multi-tier workforce, giving agency staff the right to a permanent contract and the same pay, terms and conditions as the permanent workforce.
- Donations to the strike fund can be made at gmb.org.uk/topshop
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In The Socialist 1 March 2017:
Save #OurNHS
Build a movement to save our NHS
Reinstate the bursaries for student nurses now!
Grantham: 1,000 march for reopening of A&E
NHS England missing paperwork scandal
Heart centre closure consultation 'farce'
Socialist Party women
Women's protests and walkouts around the world
Lessons of Russia 1917 for women's struggle today
Why I joined the Socialist Party
How black women fought racism and sexism at Nasa
Fight like Poplar's women councillors to change the lives of family carers
What we think
Byelections: Break with Labour Blairism wasn't on offer
Socialist Party feature
Debates on building the anti-Trump movement
Workplace news and analysis
"I worked from 9am to 11.30pm with only one break"
Warehouse workers walk out over pay and pensions
Derby teaching assistants continue fight against £6,000 a year pay cut
Picturehouse strikers blockade Leicester Square
Ford workers demand answers to Bridgend plant sourcing questions
Hearing into alleged rule-breaking by Unison ends
Leeds: Protest against tip stealing
Mixed Fleet cabin crew announce more strike days
RMT plans protest against 'driver only' Merseyrail trains
Southern Rail strike continues
May Day greetings in the Socialist
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Unions demand that Corbyn-supporting mayor protects services
Bristol cuts: the fight goes on
Tower Hamlets: There is an alternative, Mr Biggs
Spelthorne: we need socialist councillors
York University: socialists prevent far-right hate speech
Socialist Party Wales conference report
Northern region Socialist Party conference
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
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