Truth, Yes … but Justice?
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SUMMER 2016 TRUTH, YES … BUT JUSTICE? REMEMBER THE 96 2 FOODWORKER EDITOR’S SUMMER 2016 NOTES TRUTH, YES "… Jeremy Corbyn is … BUT the leader, get over JUSTICE? it and unite for the benefit of those you purport to represent" REMEMBER THE 96 "Ronnie Draper @ronniebfawu INSIDE THIS ISSUE: As we approach Annual Conference, We don’t want a return to the disloyalty of Editor’s Notes . 2 which will be held in Southport, the time to 1981 when the gang of four Roy Jenkins, reflect on where the political landscape has David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill National President . 3 moved over the last year is upon us. If we Rogers left the party to form the SDP Dennis Nash presentation . .4 are honest the only significant political although if that is the only way that we are FastFood Day of Action . .5 change has been the landslide election of going to rid our party of the treachery that Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader and appears to abound then so be it. Trade Union Bill . 6 the massive increase in the number of Who is the common enemy? Thank You Pauls! . 6 grassroots members who have joined in the Working people and the disadvantaged in our Womens' TUC Conference . .7 hope that we will see a move to a more society are under constant attack from the socialist agenda. most heinous government in living memory. Signature Flatbreads . .8 Labour = Loyalty? We and all those that we elected to Poverty Wages make us Ill! . 8 Since that day we have seen a number of parliament should be concentrating all our efforts on defeating the common enemy We are Wakefield . .9 Labour MPs using the Tory press and media instead of plotting and planning how the to undermine Jeremy’s leadership. Whether Remember the 96 . .10 Labour Party is moved back to the right. it is grandstanding in public in front of the Jeremy Corbyn is the leader, get over it and Trident . .12 cameras as was the case when John Mann unite for the benefit of those you purport MP shamefully attacked Ken Livingstone, HEALTH & SAFETY to represent. whilst looking around to see if the cameras And so to Conference… Safety Representatives . 13 were watching him or whether it is the pre- Clearly our activists, when gathered in H&S Survey results . 14 parliamentary Labour Party meetings to Southport, will have a very diverse agenda orchestrate the week's theme of attack, this John Fox Environment . .15 of 120 motions to debate, which in the main diabolical, blatant and consistent show of demonstrate the attacks being waged on the Workers Memorial Day . .16 disloyalty has to stop. less fortunate in our society. I have to say that I never saw a leaflet 40 Year Service Awards . .17 Over the past 12 months we have from any Labour Party candidate that says, Conference Delegates . .18 seen a dramatic increase in the amount of 'if elected I shall only support the leadership ballots, particularly since the inception of Contact Details . .20 so long as they fit the political profile that the government's joke 'living wage', being FOODWORKER is published for BFAWU by: I want'. I bet none of them said that they held for industrial action in response to Ronnie Draper at Stanborough House would not support a leader who came from employers who are using the legislative Great North Road the left of the party, when they were at their change as some sort of green light to plunder Stanborough, Welwyn Garden City constituency selection meetings. Hertfordshire AL8 7TA long-established terms and conditions No, the important thing was being Tel: 01707 260150/259450 covering in particular premium payments. elected into position, either getting or I find it very disappointing that our FOODWORKER is designed and produced continuing with a lucrative salary, before for BFAWU by: members are being pushed to such desperate Inscape Solutions Limited getting the knives out. Have these rogue levels that they find themselves at the brink 3 Long Hedge Lane Labour MPs not heard of the democratic of strike action, but pleased that we are Worthington process except when it is for their own seeing a return to positive response by our Ashby de la Zouch positions? What would they say if after Leics LE65 1RL members in defence of their rights, instead their election a process to remove them was of tame acceptance which can only lead to Tel: 01530 222657 started? I suspect they would be crying foul. further abuses. SUMMER 2016 FOODWORKER 3 The saying 'To rise like Lions from slumber” has never been more apt. NATIONAL The National Executive Another feature of our conference is that we PRESIDENT re-elect our National Executive for a two- year term to serve with the National Officers to ensure that union policy is applied and IAN upheld. We know that there are three definite HODSON changes as Mark McHugh, Sarah Woolley and Lukasz Bemka have all take full-time Conference has committed us to do positions as Regional Organising Secretaries and so the challenge of replacement begins. everything we can to safeguard and Being a member of the national executive maintain our Union’s independence carries with it a burden of responsibility and, with the targeting of organising of course, a deal of prestige but that alone campaigns across the whole of the is not reason enough to stand for election. food industry Determination to bring about beneficial change, even when it entails Annual Conference 2016 will again take wage for all workers, in all industries which taking difficult and sometimes unpopular place in Southport – a location that has has since become both TUC and GFTU decisions has to be the guiding principle proved to be quite popular with policy. for all those who are about to stand. delegates. This will be our third year in Conference has committed us to do Southport and during that time, we have had everything we can to safeguard and maintain some amazing guest speakers including Working people and the our Union’s independence with the targeting Arthur Scargill, Mark Serwotka and Ricky of organising campaigns across the whole disadvantaged in our society Tomlinson alongside regular attendees such of the food industry, where we are starting as John McDonnell MP, now the Shadow are under constant attack to see some successes in terms of growing Chancellor of the Exchequer or, as we like our membership base, and widening the to call him, ‘the Peoples Chancellor’ (John from the most heinous Union’s portfolio. will be addressing Conference once again government in living memory this year). Successful campaigns Other guest speakers this year include The FastFood Rights campaign has created Greater value for your subs comedian, Mark Thomas, our new a new layer of hundreds of young activists across the country, along with plenty of At Conference we will be looking to launch Parliamentary Group Chair, Ian Mearns MP and also Steve Gillan, the Prison media coverage and political support, with some new benefits that will give greater Officers General Secretary. To those artists and comedians signing up to support value for membership fees, but it would be attending Conference for the first time, I our aim of unionising the fast food industry. remiss not to mention one of our greatest hope that you really get involved – join in In addition to that, the Samworth benefits – one that continues to go from the debates, show some passion and enjoy Brothers campaign has given a huge boost strength to strength, that benefit is our own the experience. to our membership figures. Many of our Credit Union. Smoke-filled rooms? full-time officials, Union representatives, Offering an easy way to save, a cheap The Conservatives, along with their army members and activists have been supportive way to borrow and an affordable way to of supporters within the mainstream media of both campaigns, thus ensuring that put money away for your children and are always keen to suggest that the aims and we meet the demand made at last year’s grandchildren with the knowledge that your policies of the Labour Movement are Conference to secure an independent money is always safe and secure. somehow decided by sausage-fingered BFAWU. I would personally like to thank So while at conference why not take Trade Union ‘barons’. Sadly, a great number all of you who have participated. of people have been taken in by the spin. the opportunity to sign up or, even better, The EU – not long now... The reality is that it is the democratically book a roadshow for your workplace? Other policies determined by our Conference elected delegates at Annual Conference have been around the Union’s position on who submit, debate and ultimately vote … and finally for resolutions that directly affect the membership of the EU. Our union has May I take this opportunity to thank all our Union’s policy on a whole range of issues, always supported the rights and freedom for members for their continued support and to both internal and external to the food workers to live and work anywhere in the wish our activists a rewarding and successful industry. Recent decisions taken via the world, and we have never supported the call conference? power of Conference have included our for a cap on the free movement of labour. commitment to campaign for an end to the In fact, this Union has regularly JOIN TOGETHER – ORGANISE Youth Minimum Wage (which allows those condemned the divisive language used TOGETHER – WIN TOGETHER! under the age of 25 to be paid less money by politicians and media alike in order to Ronnie Draper for doing the same job) and our demand for denigrate and dehumanise foreign workers General Secretary the introduction of a £10 an hour minimum and blame them for all of society’s ‘ills’.