8/2/2019 Activist 31: Workfare Special

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Below we circulate an open letter issued by RobbieSegal, a supporter of the Activist who is a memberof USDAW national executive committee for theSouthern Region. We call on supporters of theActivist to sign the petition, circulate it throughoutthe union as well as building links with thoseorganisations campaigning against workfare. Theletter can be signed at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/usdawandworkfare/

Dear USDAW executive,

I am writing to you about the Mandatory WorkProgramme and Work Experience schemes that have

been in the news which both include making the

unemployed work for their dole. Many of the companies

taking part are in the retail sector, including companiessuch as Tesco, Primark and Boots.

While I welcome the union opposing the forced nature

of these schemes, demanding that such experience

pays the rate for the job and discussions with companies

our union has agreements with about their involvement,

this unfortunately will not be enough. Although Tescoand other companies have pulled out, without an active

campaign to organise our members against this threatthey and the Tories could try again later on.

We need to produce information for our unions activists

on why this is a threat, as well as linking up with otherssuch as Unemployed Workers Centres and Youth Fight

for Jobs to develop a mass campaign. This should

include supporting protests outside stores taking part in

these schemes.

Yours,Robbie Segal, USDAW EC member

Open Letter: USDAW needs an

active campaign against workfare

Just some of the retailcompanies taking part inworkfare

Tesco, Primark, Boots, Burton,BHS, WH Smiths, Asda, Holland &Barrett, Topshop, Wilkinsons

...And those who have pulledo u t o r s u s p e n d e dinvolvement in some of theschemes

Sa insburys , 99p S to res ,Wa te r s t ones , Pound l and ,Superdrug, Matalan, Maplin,

Argos, Tk Maxx

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USDAW must join unemployed activists inactively campaigning against workfare

the ActivistIssue 31

Workfare Special

Bulletin of Socialist Party members in

6th annual conference takes place onSaturday 9th June, Friends Meeting

House, Euston Rd, London - 11am-4pmSee www.shopstewards.net for info

8/2/2019 Activist 31: Workfare Special

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Bulletin of Socialist Party members in USDAW

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Over the past week there is agrowing national outrage overt he gove rnmen t s wo rk programme schemes whichinclude forcing those on JobSeekers Allowance (JSA) intoplacements of up to 30 hours aweek for a period of up to 2months, where they will notreceive any payment except thecontinuation of their JSA.

Given that the bulk of the

companies who have signed upto this deal are in the retailsector, this amounts to afrightful exploitation of potentialfuture members of our union, aswell as an attack on the termsand conditions of our currentmembers. Such schemes couldbe the thin end of the wedge inattempting to undermine our

members terms and conditionsby using the threat of bringingin a free workforce to replacepaid jobs.

This was spelled out in leakedminutes of the DWPs socialsecurity advisory committee inan article in the Guardian onFriday 24th February. Thesestated that '"Many retail jobsrequired staff to work for 16hours each week, with overtimepayable for any hours workedbeyond that. Work experienceallowed for 25 hours workactivity, so overtime topermanent staff was being

reduced or removed," and that"There was also evidence tosuggest that work experienceplacements were being taken onto cover Christmas vacancies."'

Whilst the Activist welcomes thestance our union has taken indemanding that anyone gainingwork experience should get the

rate for the job and suchplacements should not bemandatory, as well as takingsteps to discuss these matterswith companies where the unionhas agreements with them, thisunfortunately will not be enoughto stop such schemes.

Despite our unions success in

increasing our membership inthe recent period, the vastmajority of retail workers remainunorganised. USDAW mustmount an active campaign onthis issue, producing informationand briefings for our activists onwhy this is a threat, as well aslinking up with others such asUnemployed Workers Centresand Youth Fight for Jobs.

Such a course of action wouldhelp with recruitment to the

union, as USDAW would be seento be taking up an issue directlyaffecting our members and theirfamilies. Additionally, if USDAWrepresentatives were to speak atthe protests that are takingplace outside retail stores, thenit would help build links withyoung people who will be theretail workers of the future. Itcould even give our unionsinroads of membership intocompanies where we are not

established, helping to drive upterms and conditions across thesector.

The retail sector has a largeproportion of young peopleworking within. Being seen totake up an issue that activelyaffects this layer can only be agood thing, which will help re-

establish the relevance of tradeunions to a generation who areless aware of the value ofworkplace organisation than inthe past. It would also build onthe unions success in abolishingyouth rates in Tesco, Morrisonsand the Co-op in making clearwe are a union that fights forthe future of our youth. The

union must urgently build uponthis and develop a charter foryoung retail workers.

Supporters of the Youth Fight

for Jobs campaign will be

lobbying the union leadership in

the near future, seeking to help

build links between retail

workers and the unemployed

that can only strengthen our

unions campaigning activities in

the future.

A Strategy for USDAW to Fight Workfare

Youth Fight for Jobs protest againstBoots participation in workfare