Its on, ASDA/Walmart GMB strike, Can it succeed?

[TAE]

The union denied one of its officials was to blame – and accused Asda of taking pictures of its own workers.

So no-one actually knows who took the pictures, but they are blaming the union ?

 

[treelover]

this looks ominonous,

Asda to bus in workers as strike looms
Richard Fletcher
ASDA, the supermarket chain, is to bus staff into work in an effort to protect the identity of those who cross picket lines.

The GMB union has announced plans to film staff entering and leaving depots during this week’s strike in an attempt to prove that the supermarket chain is illegally using agency staff to break the strike.

Under new legislation it is illegal for agencies to supply temporary staff to replace strikers. But Asda has accused the union of intimidating staff and bullying them.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-2241802,00.html

 

[mutley]

So it's going to be get the agency staff to assemble somewhere, then bus them in?

Should be possible to get solidarity these days, I mean shite temp jobs are two a penny*, so it's not like people who scab will be utterly desperate, which is another eason why bussing them thru picket lines makes sense.

* am prepared to experience flack for this statement, but judging from the number of adverts i see in shops and bars wanting staff it ain't like it was 20 years ago. First time I saw an actual notice in a shop saying 'staff wanted' I had culture shock, being a child of the '80s when you never saw such things

 

[KeyboardJockey]

So it's going to be get the agency staff to assemble somewhere, then bus them in?

Should be possible to get solidarity these days, I mean shite temp jobs are two a penny*, so it's not like people who scab will be utterly desperate, which is another eason why bussing them thru picket lines makes sense.

* am prepared to experience flack for this statement, but judging from the number of adverts i see in shops and bars wanting staff it ain't like it was 20 years ago. First time I saw an actual notice in a shop saying 'staff wanted' I had culture shock, being a child of the '80s when you never saw such things

Don't bank on solidarity with the temp workers. Attitudes have changed a lot. I know I tend to be cynical about the issue of solidarity but one man striking is an opportunity for another I'm afraid.

 

[Tom A]

Don't bank on solidarity with the temp workers. Attitudes have changed a lot. I know I tend to be cynical about the issue of solidarity but one man striking is an opportunity for another I'm afraid.

Maybe a secondary campaign against the agencies who hire the scabs would be a good idea?

However there are still people who still take on the job regardless out of mere despiration, there are many places in the country where jobs are so hard to come by that you will take on anything, especially if you have a £1-2k of overdraft to deal with (I am not speaking from personal experience but I know friends who have been in a similar situation, fortunately they didn't end up doing scab jobs).

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Maybe a secondary campaign against the agencies who hire the scabs would be a good idea?

Wouldn't that be classed as secondary picketing?

However there are still people who still take on the job regardless out of mere despiration, there are many places in the country where jobs are so hard to come by that you will take on anything, especially if you have a £1-2k of overdraft to deal with (I am not speaking from personal experience but I know friends who have been in a similar situation, fortunately they didn't end up doing scab jobs).

Very true.

 

[Tom A]

Wouldn't that be classed as secondary picketing?

Doesn't need to be the union doing the striking that does it, an autonomous group of individuals could do it in a display of solidarity.

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Doesn't need to be the union doing the striking that does it, an autonomous group of individuals could do it in a display of solidarity.

As long as there is no evidence of encouragement from the union for the secondary action then you might be right. Then it would just be Public Order Act or something similar.

 

[TAE]

I thought it is illegal for anyone to hire such replacement workers in the first place!

 

[KeyboardJockey]

I thought it is illegal for anyone to hire such replacement workers in the first place!

Dont think this is going to deter Walmart - the fines are probably derisory anyway.

 

[TAE]

Well they can hardly call it secondary picketing if it's targetting illegal replacement of workers.

 

[Nigel]

Support Groups

Have there been any support groups set up.
What are the attitudes of people involvced with this industrial disbute to outside help, and/or support from local Trade Union branches/Trade Councils etc.

This could be the beginning of a pattern of industrial actions.
Gate Gourmet workers were seen to be in an impossible position, although they did unconditionally win they won some compensation and there is a chance that they may be reinstated through legal action going through at the moment, which I have been told is simililar to Hillingdon Hospital Workers.
Other GMB workers have come out in action surrounding pensions.

 

[mutley]

Have there been any support groups set up.
What are the attitudes of people involvced with this industrial disbute to outside help, and/or support from local Trade Union branches/Trade Councils etc.

This could be the beginning of a pattern of industrial actions.
Gate Gourmet workers were seen to be in an impossible position, although they did unconditionally win they won some compensation and there is a chance that they may be reinstated through legal action going through at the moment, which I have been told is simililar to Hillingdon Hospital Workers.
Other GMB workers have come out in action surrounding pensions.

Gate Gourmet lost because when other workers at Heathrow walked out in solidarity the T & G leadership shat themselves, decided that loyalty to New Labour was more important than solidarity and told people to get back to work. Hopefully that pattern won't be repeated, though the link to New Lab is the achilles heal of the TU movement imo.

The interesting thing about this dispute is that these workers (partic the warehouse and delivery staff) have actually got some real power if they're organised, but them using it doesn't cause the same scenes of distressed service users as closing an airport (or letting a house burn down). After all, there's always another shop down the road..

Though its also true that if walmart really decided to dig in they could cope for a while - then support activities would be central.

 

[tbaldwin]

This could be a very interesting dispute it could really show that consumer and workers power can be a winning duo...Hope people will boycott ASDA and put real pressure on Walmarts management.

 

[Matt S]

Looks like we will never know, as the strike has been called off.

Matt

 

[KeyboardJockey]

Looks like we will never know, as the strike has been called off.

Matt

Do we know why yet? Is it because of the legal pressures from Walmart or has an agreement been reached between the employers and the union?

 

[In Bloom]

Looks like we will never know, as the strike has been called off.

Matt

What's the excuse this time?

 

[Matt S]

They've accepted an improved offer from the employers. I've no idea what the offer *is* at this stage.

Matt

 

[In Bloom]

Cheers.

Out of curiosity, where are you getting this from?

 

[Matt S]

www.socialistunity.blogspot.com

Matt

 

[ska invita]

Wal-Mart might get stung hard out in the US thanks to this:
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/10/13/wal_mart_loses_suit_over_rest_breaks/

Wal-Mart has lost a class action lawsuit that says it violated a series of state labor laws. On Thursday, a jury ruled Wal Mart illegally forced employees to work through rest breaks and during time not counted on the clock.

Lawyers are seeking at least $62 million dollars for close to one hundred and ninety thousand current and former employees. The jury is expected to decide on damages later today.

Analysts say the case could have a major impact on several similar lawsuits against Wal Mart across the United States.