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‘If the unions were stronger this panic wouldn’t need to happen’

Matt Trinder spoke to IAN HODSON, national president of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) as his members work round the clock to keep the nation fed during the crisis

“THE virus might make people realise that we are part of a community, and the idea that there is no such thing as society is not the right approach, because this is a time when we’re all going to need each other,” suggests Ian Hodson.

The BFAWU has represented employees in the food sector, from production to retail, since 1847. Today his members find themselves on the front line of the fight against Covid-19, providing increasingly valuable food supplies to the public.

“It’s nice to hear food workers being called essential workers rather than low skilled and low paid workers. It’s nice for the recognition that actually they are essential, they’ve always been essential, and this is a time when the skills of those workers are becoming quite apparent.”

Panic buying as a result of anxiety caused by the outbreak is putting pressure on food supply chains. But Hodson feels it is totally unnecessary.

“At this moment in time there is no threat to food supply. The idea of people rushing out and panic buying is an over-reaction. It’s going to cause a problem we don’t actually have.

“I keep hearing about the ‘blitz spirit’ and the stiff upper lip. Well, I’m sorry, we’re not seeing that, we’re seeing panic and selfishness. I understand, people are looking out for their families, and they’re worried, but the reality is it’s a panic that doesn’t need to happen.

“The fact is some people can afford to go out and stockpile, and unfortunately there’s more people in a situation that can’t, that live week to week, and they’re going to suffer real hardship because of the behaviour of some people.

“It’s more to do with a failure of government, a lack of leadership. The ‘some of you are going to die’ approach of the Prime Minister shows the shambolic nature at the heart of the government. Boris Johnson hides, what sort of the leadership is that?

“The government’s approach seems to be ‘you’re on your own’.”

How should Johnson change his approach?

A government pledge to provide a universal income would help to allay fears according to Hodson.

“I notice that Richard Branson has got his begging bowl out, asking for £7.5 billion for a bailout for the aviation industry. I’d rather see that money go back into the pockets of people that actually live and pay their taxes in this country, instead of people that avoid it.

“That £7.5 billion could be used as a universal income, to make sure that we get through this crisis as a country, and ensure people aren’t going to suffer more than they need to because they’ve been unfortunate to find themselves in insecure and exploitative employment.”

For Hodson, full guaranteed sick pay to all those self-isolating would be another important step.

“We’ve got issues with employers who don’t pay people sick pay, or use agency or zero-hour contracts, who are not committed to ensuring those workers have a form of protection. They need to be taken to task. We have to name and shame them.”

“The likes of McDonald’s and these fast food chains could be playing an important part on the basis that some in our society might be reliant on food being delivered to them if they can’t get out to the shops. These companies could make a real change in their approach, how they pay their workers for example by committing to paying them sick pay.”

The BFAWU has supported McDonald’s UK workers (dubbed the McStrikers) in their fight for acceptable working conditions, job security and an affordable living wage at the world’s biggest fast food chain since 2017.

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is another major retailer refusing to commit to paying sick pay from day one of a worker’s absence due to Covid-19.

“I’m not going in Wetherspoon now because if they can’t pay their workers there’s a risk those workers will go into work infected because they’ve got no choice but to go in,” Hodson said.

“In fact, one of the things that the government could do is announce that all those employers that don’t look after their workers should have to put a sign up saying ‘we don’t pay sick pay so there is a risk.’ People can make an informed choice then.

 

“I think it’s appalling. Wetherspoon can reduce the price of their beer but they can’t make sure that the people that serve that beer are protected.”

People are not waiting for government measures and are taking it upon themselves to take action to protect their communities, with neighbourhood groups already mobilising to support vulnerable individuals and make shopping trips for those self-isolating.

Hodson believes the trade union and labour movements are in a unique position to support such grassroots initiatives.

“I think this is an opportunity to point out how a country can improve and better itself by working collectively, as opposed to this idea that you’re all on your own. Because you’re all on your own means you panic buy.

“I think it’s up to us to explain this to people. For too long we’ve allowed the wrong people to explain the hardship that people are suffering. It used to be down to the unemployed, then it was too many people on the sick, then it was down to too many immigrants.

“The reality is it’s been decisions made by government that have resulted in people struggling. It’s the lack of collective bargaining, it’s the failure to allow trade unions to organise and operate in the economy, it’s the deliberative individualisation of our economy that’s created the hardship that people are suffering.

“In the 1970s people were buying houses and cars, they weren’t relying on credit cards, they could go and do a weekly shop, they could go to the pub, families could afford to go away at weekends, all of that stuff happened because there was a very large density of trade union membership, wages meant people could afford to live, and people have forgotten that.

“To rely on politicians to do it is wrong. We now need to make politicians listen to the people. That means people actually creating the future that they want and forcing politicians to adapt to that.”

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