Socialist Party Member Elected President of Shop Workers’ Union

Written by Anonymous Usdaw Member in Leicestershire

When Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party in 2015 I knew there was a chance to change politics in this country for the better. After all, compared to previous Labour leaders Corbyn has always been completely committed to trade unions and their ongoing efforts to improve workers’ rights in Leicester and across the entire country.

As a shop worker for more than a decade, I was delighted this week when fellow Socialist Party member Amy Murphy was elected as the president of the shop workers’ union USDAW. At a time when workers are faced with poor conditions and low pay, her success will certainly inspire more people to get organised in their workplaces.

Amy stood for plain and simple socialist ideas: a £10 an hour minimum wage, an end to zero-hour contracts, supporting members who wish to take industrial action and standing up to companies’ attacks on jobs and terms and conditions. These are the same ideas that Corbyn is popularising too.

If you are not in a union already, I would say join one today. If you are a part-time work, then being in a union is even more important. How else can you collectively work in to improve your working environment?

For further details about socialist activism within Usdaw , see https://usdawactivist.wordpress.com/