The Socialist 9 August 2016

Stand firm for socialism

#KeepCorbyn: stand firm for socialism

Liverpool: Corbyn slams "politics of the elite"

Wallasey Labour meet in resistance to the Blairites

Mood for unity but not with right-wing Labour infiltrators

Thousands attend Corbyn rally in Cornwall

Bristol: Jeremy Corbyn wins support from young people

Hull: Jeremy Corbyn rally the biggest for 20 years

Jeremy Corbyn attracts 1,000 in York

Fresh bank crash looms

No to new grammars

Fight to defend HIV drug victory

UK wage drop as bad as Greece

Privatised medical record chaos

Them & Us

Grunwick strike 40 years on - lessons of an epic battle

Fawley strike defeats 'race to bottom' exploitation of migrant workers

Low paid cleaners declare victory after 58 days on strike

Samworth Brothers step up bullying and intimidation of workers

Communication Workers Union backs Jeremy Corbyn

HMY Radford shopfitters strike against penny-pinching company

South Wales NUM supports Jeremy Corbyn

Paul Reilly for RMT EC

2011 riots: An outpouring of anger at the system

Axe the Housing Act: 'We can't pay, we'll organise and we'll stay'

Great reception in Hackney for Chicago 'Black Lives Matter' socialist

South London #BlackLivesMatter protest marches on Downing Street

Leeds Pride 2016: Pride must be political!

Sanctioned - a victim of government callousness

Food waste - the logic of capitalism

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Shopfitters from HMY Radford in Burnopfield on a three-day strike, Wednesday 3rd August., photo by E Brunskill

Shopfitters from HMY Radford in Burnopfield on strike, Wednesday 3rd August, photo by E Brunskill (Click to enlarge)

HMY Radford shopfitters strike against penny-pinching company

Elaine Brunskill

Shopfitters from HMY Radford in Burnopfield (Tyneside) are on a three-day strike, starting Wednesday 3rd August. This strike, alongside a 24-hour stoppage in July, is the first strike action at this factory for 33 years.

One of the strikers explained: "At the end of the day the dispute is about pay, conditions and fairness". Another said: "What we are asking for is pennies!"

The shopfitters had asked for a 33p an hour increase each year over the next three years, which would take them to just below the living wage of £9 an hour which is to be introduced by 2020. The company flatly refused to do this.

Strikers also commented that their wages had already effectively been reduced by around £1,800 a year 18 months ago when their shift patterns were changed.

Workers told of the 'penny pinching' methods of the company, and how the managers 'keep changing the rules to suit them.' This year is a leap year, but workers were told they wouldn't be paid for the extra day as they are salaried!

Strikers told us the company likes to make out that 'we're all in this together'; everyone at the factory wears the same uniform. However, when it comes to things like hospital appointments, office staff are given paid leave, whereas the shopfitters have to take the day off as a holiday or without pay.

The shopfitters are clearly angry, but also determined to fight for a decent pay rise and better working conditions.

Please send messages of support to 0778 772 5470.

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 3 August 2016 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

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