
The Socialist 13 January 2021
Our health and livelihoods before their profits

Our health and livelihoods before their profits
Londoners suffer and Khan piles on pressure
Bosses earn workers' annual wage in three days
NHS Emergency - Fight for a fully funded, publicly owned, socialist NHS
Dispatches from the front - health workers speak out
NHS pandemic warnings ignored - renationalise our NHS
Schools: Act together to oppose unsafe numbers and rising workload
Global capitalism at most dangerous conjuncture since the 1930s
Fully resource the vaccination programme now
Covid vaccine nationalism threatens pandemic response
How should socialists respond to the 6 January attacks on Capitol Hill?
Lockdown 3.0 - fight to make our shops safe!
Ryan Aldred: Why I'm standing for Usdaw's EC
Unison get sec election shows left can win NEC
Royal mail management forced to make concessions
British Gas workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Get stuck in to build a fighting, democratic PCS union
Refund student rent and fees - fight for free education and make the 1% pay
Exams scrapped again - young people need a future with jobs and free education
Help us fund the fight for Socialism
TUSC to hold local elections conference in February
Book Review: Humankind - Dispelling the myth that humans are too selfish for socialism
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Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1116/31828
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Ryan Aldred: Why I'm standing for the Usdaw union executive council
With Covid decimating the retail sector, it is vital that Usdaw takes a lead in organising retail and distribution workers in supermarkets, high street chains and smaller, independent businesses.
Workers shouldn't pay for this crisis, every job must be defended.
We need an end to zero and low-hours contracts, except where members specifically opt in.
Supermarket and distribution staff have worked through three lockdowns to ensure that everyone in Britain has access to food. Retail and distribution workers should be rewarded with wages that reflect their status as key workers.
This is why we need £12 an hour as a minimum wage with hazard pay for workers putting themselves at risk to continue to deliver what has been recognised as a vital service.
We shouldn't shy away from taking industrial action up to and including strike action if supermarket bosses refuse to give up their bumper profits.
We need to challenge companies like Sainsbury's which can afford to pay out massive dividends to shareholders while simultaneously putting thousands of jobs at risk.
With each subsequent lockdown we have seen many names disappearing from the high street for good. We need a leadership prepared to roll out a retail industrial strategy calling for public ownership to save the hundreds of thousands of jobs currently at risk, whether it be Debenhams, the Arcadia Group or any of those on the growing list of retailers who have fallen into administration.
If elected, I would take such a strategy to the Usdaw executive council to ensure that key supermarket workers and non-essential retail and distribution workers alike are protected. A vote for me is a vote for a fighting, democratic leadership.
- Socialist Party member Ryan is standing in the South Wales and Western Division, with ballot papers out on 18 January. See 'Ryan Aldred for Usdaw EC' on Facebook and usdawactivist.wordpress.com for more
In this issue
News
Our health and livelihoods before their profits
Londoners suffer and Khan piles on pressure
Bosses earn workers' annual wage in three days
NHS
NHS Emergency - Fight for a fully funded, publicly owned, socialist NHS
Dispatches from the front - health workers speak out
NHS pandemic warnings ignored - renationalise our NHS
Schools
Schools: Act together to oppose unsafe numbers and rising workload
Economy
Global capitalism at most dangerous conjuncture since the 1930s
Vaccines
Fully resource the vaccination programme now
Covid vaccine nationalism threatens pandemic response
International news
How should socialists respond to the 6 January attacks on Capitol Hill?
Retail
Lockdown 3.0 - fight to make our shops safe!
Ryan Aldred: Why I'm standing for Usdaw's EC
Workplace news
Unison get sec election shows left can win NEC
Royal mail management forced to make concessions
British Gas workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Get stuck in to build a fighting, democratic PCS union
Youth and students
Refund student rent and fees - fight for free education and make the 1% pay
Exams scrapped again - young people need a future with jobs and free education
Campaigns and party news
Help us fund the fight for Socialism
TUSC to hold local elections conference in February
Review
Book Review: Humankind - Dispelling the myth that humans are too selfish for socialism
Home | The Socialist 13 January 2021 | Join the Socialist Party
Related links:
Lockdown 3.0 - fight to make our shops safe!
High street jobs, safety and pay: We have to fight
Don't let the festive season be one of misery for retail workers
Sainsbury's and Argos: Closures, cuts and soaring sales
Usdaw needs a fighting leadership
Get stuck in to build a fighting, democratic PCS union
Royal mail management forced to make concessions
Unison get sec election shows left can win NEC
Nottingham City Council: Major battles against cuts ahead
Welsh trades councils rally against the pay-freeze
South London council workers vote to strike
NHS Emergency - Fight for a fully funded, publicly owned, socialist NHS
British Gas workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Arcadia and Debenhams closures: Nationalise to save jobs and pensions