Precarious Workers Organise.

 

     Capitalism continually morphs trying to rescue itself from crisis after crisis. However all the changes never enhance the working conditions of the ordinary people. The previous crisis ushered in austerity, another name for stripping the funding from social service to repay the financial mafia's gambling losses. During this period the most wealthy managed to double their wealth, while the ordinary people went from "just about managing" to an ever precarious struggle to survive.

      The latest crisis  coming in on the back of austerity, has seen the expansion of zero hours contracts, part-time working and the gig economy. All of these are another step in protecting their ability to cream ever greater profit from the workers. It is a planned development to erode workers conditions stripping them of paid holidays, guaranteed income, sick pay, and saving the employers from paying national insurance. It also frees them from any responsibility for accidents at work and working conditions.

     This form of work, is likely to grow as more and more employers see the benefits to them of making workers "self-employed", freeing employers from any responsibility and lowering their costs. If there is anyone out there that thinks that the government, who work hand in glove with the employers, is likely to do anything to reverse this trend, they are living in the fog of naive illusion. Employers are working towards the ordinary people being units on the self, for the employer to pick up when they need them, and to be dumped back on the self to survive as best they can, until some other employer sees the need to pick up a couple more to be used in the same temporary manner.

     The only way that these workers will see any improvement in their conditions or improvement in their life style and security, is to organise in conjunction with other workers and the unemployed.

     It is encouraging to see that is what they are starting to do. Recently we had the couriers strike, and two protests and rallies of "precarious workers", which covers all those mentioned above and more. One in London and one in Glasgow, but they need the solidarity of all workers, unemployed and pensioners. As their conditions are stripped away it impinges on all our communities. Without organising we face a society of impoverished workers and social services stripped to the bone.    

Some photos from today's demonstration in Glasgow's George Square:

Some from the London demonstration:

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk

Couriers United.

       The gig economy, due to its individual workers situation, is very difficult to organise, so they suffer at the hands of their bosses, with lousy conditions and poor pay. However, as usual workers can show imagination and solidarity in overcoming these difficulties by coming together. The couriers have come together and organised themselves via the IWW and are now in a position to challenge some of the injustices that plague their employment conditions. Though they are organised and taking a stand, they still need the support and solidarity of everybody that suffers under the yoke of this unjust capitalist system. Show your support by getting involved.

 

 

From an IWW Couriers Network member:

        As you’ve probably heard, this Thursday, 4th October, gig economy food couriers in the IWW Couriers Network will be striking across the UK (in over 7 different cities) for £5.00 an hour per delivery. We’ve chosen to strike on the 4th because it’s the same day that workers in the food industry are striking across the UK, in McDonalds, Wetherspoons and TGIFridays. Couriers in the Glasgow network have officially voted to join the strike.  

       I’m reliably informed by a fellow IWW member that this is the first nationwide strike action called by the UK IWW, ever, so this action is BIG.

         As this is so historic, and we’re a fighting union, we’re pleading with branch members to get involved with this strike as much as they possibly can. If you’ve never come to an IWW event before, this strike is going to be the perfect time to make your debut. We need a turnout at pre-strike organising sessions and on the strike itself like we’ve never seen before to make this a success! Here’s how you can get involved: 

        1. Come to the pre-strike leafleting session on Wednesday 3rd October,  meeting outside McDonalds Argyle Street/Jamaica Street crossroads, 5:15pm.

          We’ll be leafleting key restaurants and telling workers about the strike. No experience, skill or materials needed at all! See the ‘Talking Points’ section at the bottom of this email for advice about what we’ll be saying and some info about working for UberEats/ the context of the strike.

        2. Come to the strike itself! There will be two demos, 12pm and 6pm in George Square

         This is the most important one. We need as many members at these two demos as possible. After assembling in the square, we’ll be picketing key restaurants. Bring your bikes if you want to be involved in a flying picket!

        3. Share the word on social media

         On the run up to, and on the day itself, we need you to be posting on all your social media channels about the strike, using the hashtag #FFS410 [FFS410 stands for Fast Food Strike 4th October, if you were wondering!]

       Thanks for your support, FWs! If you have any questions, feel free to email me! See you on Wednesday/on the picket line!

Solidarity,

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk
    

Couriers Unite

          Our corporate masters never miss a trick when it comes to cutting workers conditions and unloading their responsibilities. So along comes the "gig" economy, sold to the workers as freeing them up, allowing maximum flexible working conditions. Of course what they don't mention is that there is no sick pay, no paid holidays, no guaranteed income, and no protection if anything happens while you are working.  The bosses get a workforce that they have no responsibility for, no national insurance, no responsibility for accidents happening while on the job. It is a win win case for the boss. 

         The conditions that gig economy couriers work under can be dangerous, exhausting, and leave them struggling to pay their way. Most of them come out well below the living wage. However, Glasgow couriers that are tied into the UBER yoke are getting organised, fighting back, and demanding a fair deal. Though that desire in capitalism, is as rare as a two headed hippopotamus flying over Glasgow. That doesn't mean of course, that we should not get organised and take on the bosses for the right to decent working conditions.  

         Let's all get behind the couriers, and give them maximum support, and stand with them in solidarity, their struggle is our struggle.

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk

Solidarity Forever.

      Something that a lot of people, especially among the young, seem to take for granted are lunch breaks, paid holidays, etc. they seem to accept them as a given, probably given by that kind employer. Of course the young people in the "gig" economy, they know different, they are being slapped in the face with with raw capitalism. No holiday pay, no lunch break, no health and safety, no guaranteed wage, no fixed working week, just used as needed. What all of us must remember is that whatever conditions we have, we wrestled them from the employers, through solidarity and struggle. Sometimes those involved in that struggle paid with the loss of their employment and/or their freedom, some paid for them with their lives. Not one of the benefits we have, were ever give by the employer, nor legislated for by the government, without that long and bitter struggle by the ordinary people. 

     The employer class at the moment feel they can now, with the aid and protection of the government, claw back lots of those hard won benefits. Once again we must turn to solidarity, across all work places, to protect what little benefits we have, and to struggle to end the exploitation of people by capital.

     The following is a little reminder of our need for solidarity, the weapon that can defeat the greed driven class of capitalist exploiters.

This from The zine formerly known as “The Call” Issue 4, –May Day 2018: 

Read PDF ll Print PDF

Solidarity Forever!

         “What force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one?” A revolution is the product of the combined determination of individuals. Capitalism uses isolation as a tool to steal the empowerment of the people, driving a wedge between the individual and their sense of community. The ruling class knows there exists power in unity, and in that power, a threat to their system of hierarchy and inequality. Solidarity is the greatest weapon possessed by the people. Through solidarity and struggle, workers demanded and won their rights, and through solidarity greater obstacles will be conquered. “In our hands is placed the power greater than their hoarded gold. Greater than the might of armies magnified a thousandfold

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk

Death At Work..

The "gig" economy and zero hours contracts are now the shape of a life for a large section of the working class. It is pumped out as flexible to suit the individual, but in actual fact is just another way of employers saving money and cutting down on their responsibilities to the employee. They have no worries about paid holidays, sick pay and health and safety, and a host of other workers rights. As usual it is the employee bears the brunt of this stripping down of conditions, conditions that were fought for over generations are now being destroyed, all in the name of profit, under the false flag of "flexibility".

         The recent case in Philadelphia where a courier was killed while working and his employer washes their hands of any responsibility, brings home the brutal truth of this type of "employment". Unfortunately I will be unable to take part in this action of support and solidarity, if you can, please do, it is short notice as it is this evening, but please spread the word.

Hi FWs,
       This Friday (25th) in Glasgow at 6:30pm, George Square, the Couriers Network Scotland will be holding a memorial bike ride for Pablo Avendano- a food courier who was killed recently whilst working for the app 'Caviar'. The company refuse to accept their share of responsibility for his death and his friends and family have asked for solidarity actions.
        All are welcome. We'll have supply of black armbands for folks to wear in his memory.
         (If you don't have a bike, there are Next Bikes available in the Square that you can rent for free for 30 mins)
         "This Friday Glasgow Critical Mass will be dedicating their monthly bike ride to Pablo Avendano, a Philadelphia based bike courier and activist who tragically lost his life while working for courier firm Cavier last Saturday!
Come on down to show your support!
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
The Streets are our workplace!"

Solidarity,

Chris - Couriers Network Scotland

Visit ann arky's home at radicalglasgow.me.uk