"We have record employment, but also record levels of poverty among those in work... Work for millions has become insecure and stressful. We have to change that."

This is what Jeremy Corbyn wrote in July, announcing a series of policies to protect the low-paid.

He pledged that a Labour government under his leadership would ban zero-hour contracts. And it would force companies with over 250 employees to bring back collective bargaining - negotiating pay, terms and conditions through trade unions. He also demands a £10 an hour minimum wage.

No wonder the bosses and Tories hate him. He stands with workers against their cruel working conditions and poverty pay. That's why his leadership challenge is such a threat to companies like Sports Direct, which has hit the headlines recently for its appalling practices.

'Shane Stephenson', a zero-hour warehouse worker at another 'Victorian' firm, reports on the Sports Direct struggle:

Under pressure from unions and the media, workhouse employer Sports Direct has decided to partially scrap some zero-hour contracts.

Management promises a wage slightly above the national average, and a small number of guaranteed hours.

However, even these tiny changes are only for staff directly employed by Sports Direct. The vast majority are agency workers. In the 3,200-worker Shirebrook mega-warehouse, only 6% will benefit.

Meanwhile, fat-cat boss Mike Ashley shows up to the company's 'open day' pulling over a grand in £50 notes out of his pocket at the security check-in. His joking smile showed how little this concerned him.

At the firm's annual general meeting for shareholders, Ashley claimed he had no knowledge of 'sweatshop' conditions such as the 'six-strike policy'. Employees are disciplined for simply spending time in the toilet or talking to other staff.

I'm a zero-hour contract warehouse worker for another massive retailer, B&M. A lot of things are similar. Instead of a six-strike policy, we have three strikes! The majority of B&M stores don't even have proper air conditioning. 'Sweatshop' is right.

The Socialist Party fights for

Scrapping all zero-hour contracts - for full-time work for all who desire it
Flexible working for those who need it, but on workers' terms, not the bosses'
Union recognition and full employment rights from day one on the job

"Sports Direct's huge Shirebrook warehouse is on the site of a colliery that employed large numbers of well-paid, unionised, skilled workers. Today, thousands are employed as agency workers and on zero-hours contracts."

Jeremy Corbyn

Donate to the Socialist Party

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.
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 Fighting Fund.