USDAW Gen Sec Election - Vote Robbie Segal - Fight for a living wage; against partnership; fight for trade union democracy

For too long, some of Britain's lowest paid and most exploited workers, those who work in shops and warehouses, have been in a union (USDAW) led by people that would rather cosy up to Tesco's and fund New Labour than fight for their members. Who would rather collect a fat salary with all the perks than take on the bullying bosses of the supermarkets. Who have worked against union democracy.

The campaigning group 'The USDAW Democrat' is standing Socialist Party member Robbie Segal (pictured) for General Secretary of USDAW. Robbie has been an USDAW Shop Steward for 21 years and is standing against the current General Secretary, who moved the date of the election to try and head off any competition. It didn't work as the popularity of Robbie and the campaign meant she is on the ballot paper.

USDAW members also have the chance to attend a conference for all those who oppose the direction of the union under the current leadership, to be held in London on Saturday 20th September. For more details, please contact Robbie at the email address found on her site. For Socialist Party trade unionists, elections are important, but the campaigning doesn't stop when the results are announced. The fight to transform our unions into effective, democratic voices for workers goes on all year round. If you are an USDAW member, please get in contact with us. If you aren't in a union, join one, organise, and let the fightback begin!

Robbie's campaign platform is:

A Living Wage: I will launch a campaign to fight for a living minimum wage of £8 per hour for all retail workers, from 16 years to retirement age. I will fight to link pensions to earnings.

Yes to National free collective bargaining - No to Partnership: I will re-establish Usdaw as an independent trade union. I will fight to restore our vote on pay and campaign to resist Tesco’s proposed 2% target for absence.

Fight for Union democracy: I will return power to the Union’s elected lay-member Executive Council and ensure proper EC minutes are produced as agreed by ADM.

For a General Secretary on a worker’s wage: I reject the wage and the benefits totalling over £100,000 that John Hannett, the General Secretary, receives and the General Secretary’s Jaguar car. I will take the wage that I earn as a Tesco worker and all necessary
expenses will be open to scrutiny so that any member can check them. The money released will be used to campaign for our members benefit.