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From The Socialist newspaper, 22 July 2020
I joined the Socialist Party to fight back
Striking Sainsbury's workers reading the Socialist at the Sainsbury's Waltham Point strike, 27.6.19, photo London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Since the coronavirus crisis started, managers at the Sainsbury's where I work have gone on the offensive, handing out disciplinary investigations like confetti. So I joined the Socialist Party in order to fight back
In the short time that I've been a member, I've been given advice on how to: 1) Defend colleagues in disciplinary meetings; 2) set up a Unite union branch at the store where I work; and 3) get elected as a shop steward.
On all of these counts I am already making some progress. In a disciplinary investigation, I represented a fellow Unite member who was on a final written warning, and potentially facing dismissal.
By following advice that had been given to me by Roger Bannister and Dave Walsh - both Socialist Party members and experienced trade unionists - I was able to defend my colleague so that the investigation against him was completely dropped.
This success is small in the grand scheme of things. But it is important to the person whose job was protected. And it has helped in growing the budding Unite branch at my workplace.
This small victory would not have been possible without the help and advice I'd received from Socialist Party members. I hope it is the first of many victories.
Sainsbury's worker, Liverpool Socialist Party
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Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our special coronavirus appeal.
In The Socialist 22 July 2020:
News
Fight for our livelihoods... fight for our lives!
Huawei: what's behind Johnson's latest u-turn?
Mandatory masks in shops law: workers must not pay the price
Luton Council sunk by airport investment: fight for funding, not speculation!
Tories using pandemic to privatise NHS more
Unison
Hugely significant Tower Hamlets council workers' strike continues
Hugo Pierre for Unison general secretary
No going back
Housing crisis: what now and after the pandemic?
Workplace news
United Left general secretary hustings shows widest debate needed for left in Unite
Nationalise Tata Steel to save jobs
Online rally: Fight the London transport funding cuts!
Continue the fight to protect safety
Debenhams: Fighting closures and redundancies
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Campaigns
I joined the Socialist Party to fight back
Wales arts cuts: Save every job
Trade unionists and artists stand with Maxine Peake
Getting the Socialist over the summer
Music
Saving the music industry from pandemic and austerity
International news
Iran: Renewed wave of protests and strikes
Communist Party
100 years since the foundation of the Communist Party of Great Britain
Readers' opinion
Exciting Cuban spy thriller exposes US-sponsored terrorism
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