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      • Anarchism and Anarcho-syndicalism (Rudolf Rocker, 2014)
      • Fighting for ourselves - anarcho-syndicalism and the class struggle (2012)
      • Workmates - direct action workplace organising on the London underground (2011)
      • Health and safety at work - an anarcho-syndicalist approach (1997)
      • The Economics of freedom (2003)
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  • IWA

Workfare: You're putting your customers off, Mr Manager

By Rob Ray, 19 May, 2012
l

Picketing shops can reap some rich rewards when the cause is as uncontroversial as "this lot force people to work for free." The general crowd response is along the lines of "really, they do that? What a bunch of gits." 

That sort of response to a campaign makes a grey day shine for us and makes shop managers very, very angry.

So angry in fact that the Holland and Barrett manager on Mare Street in Hackney, where North London SolFed did its latest picket in the battle to stop Workfare today, insisted on standing in his own doorway to berate us and ended up putting off nearly as many customers as we did.

There were quite a few, Mr Manager. Disapproving faces, Mr Manager. Your bottom line, Mr Manager, walking away because your firm doesn't pay its staff, Mr Manager.

And typically of a man with no good arguments, within a few minutes he'd hit on his main point, which he then stuck to like a limpet. "Why can't you bother another shop, there's loads of us doing this." We have done, Mr Manager, lots and lots of Hollands and Barretts up and down the country.

And we will continue to, until your company and the others stop undercutting wages by taking advantage of the desperation of the unemployed and the strong arm of the state.

Your company is like that kid who bounces around behind the bully and grabs the leftover change from his victims - and the Solidarity Federation doesn't like bullies, or their sidekicks.

We'll be out there as long as we must, we'll tell your customers all about your nasty little tricks and ask them to take action on it too, until you get on the blower to your top dogs and push them to drop out of Workfare.

And with a little luck, we'll get your staff talking about this. About how your dodgy deals with the government are undercutting their wages, screwing around with their shift patterns and mucking up their work. About how, in a climate where you can't just jump in and out of a job any more, it might be worth getting together to make change, Mr Manager. 

    • Holland & Barrett
    • Hackney
    • Boycott Workfare
    • workfare
    • North London

    Guides

    Your rights at work

    About SolFed

    About SolFed

    Do you sometimes feel your union isn’t listening to you? (Solidarity Federation Education Union - SFEU)

    SFEU-flyer-2024-front

    What is wage theft?

    What is wage theft

    This is our flag - it tells you what we stand for

    this-is-our-flag

    Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers Union (SFHWU)

    sfhwu leaflet front

    Stuff your boss (doesn't want you to know)

    Stuff your boss (doesn't want you to know)

    Why do we organise? Capitalism is shit, oppression is shit - but what can we at SolFed do about it?

    Why do we organise?

    Stuff your sexist boss (doesn't want you to know) (2018)

    Stuff your sexist boss (doesn't want you to know) (2018)

    Cost of living - Organise and fight back with the Solidarity Federation

    Cost of living - Organise and fight back with the Solidarity Federation

    Don't cross picket lines! Solidarity is the most powerful force in the world

    Don't cross picket lines

    Direct Action #2 (2024)

    Direct Action #2 (2024)

    Don't just moan - Organise!

    Don't just moan - Organise!

    Is your cleaning job killing you? A guide to cleaners health and safety (2017)

    Stuff your landlord (doesn't want you to know) (2016)

    Stuff your landlord (doesn't want you to know) (2016)

    Fed up with your landlord? Organise and fight back!

    Fed up with your landlord? Organise and fight back!

    A migrant's guide to Manchester (2016)

    A migrant's guide to Manchester (2016)

    SolFed supports trans liberation - transphobia is a workplace and housing issue

    SolFed supports Trans Liberation - transphobia is a workplace and housing issue

    Office worker’s health and safety - your rights and how to use them (2015)

    Office worker’s health and safety - your rights and how to use them (2015)

    Solidarity Federation - Where we stand

    Solidarity Federation - Where we stand

    Anarcho-syndicalism in Britain – a little history (2015)

    Anarcho-syndicalism in Britain – a little history (2015)

    Strike - a guide to walking out (2014)

    Strike - a guide to walking out (2014)

    Anarchism and Anarcho-syndicalism (Rudolf Rocker, 2014)

    Anarchism and Anarcho-syndicalism (Rudolf Rocker, 2014)

    There's power in a union

    theres-power-in-a-union

    A migrant's guide to London (2014)

    A migrant's guide to London (2014)

    Fighting for ourselves - anarcho-syndicalism and the class struggle (2012)

    Fighting for ourselves - anarcho-syndicalism and the class struggle (2012)

    Theory & Practice 1 - Workmates - direct action workplace organising on the London underground (2011)

    Theory & Practice 1 - Workmates - direct action workplace organising on the London underground (2011)

    The Economics of freedom (2003)

    The Economics of freedom (2003)

    A history of anarcho-syndicalism (SelfEd Collective, 24 unit series, 2001)

    A history of anarcho-syndicalism (SelfEd Collective, 24 unit series, 2001)

    Out of the frying pan, a critical look at works councils (1998)

    Out of the frying pan, a critical look at works councils (1998)

    Health and safety at work - an anarcho-syndicalist approach (1997)

    Health and safety at work - an anarcho-syndicalist approach (1997)

    Theory & Practice 2 - Anarcho-syndicalism in Puerto Real (1994)

    Theory & Practice 2 - Anarcho-syndicalism in Puerto Real (1994)

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    The Solidarity Federation is an anarcho-syndicalist union, a means for people seeking to improve our lives to organise in our workplaces and communities. SolFed brings together people in all occupations regardless of industry, sector or trade – whether we’re employed or not.

    SolFed seeks the abolition of capitalism and the institutions of power that are associated with it, such as the state. Our goal is to create a society centred on needs rather than profit, based upon the principle ‘from each according to ability, to each according to need’.

    We believe in the principle of direct action – that means doing something for ourselves and not expecting leaders or representatives to act on our behalf.

    SolFed members organise ourselves in a federation of local unions; in education we are in the Solidarity Federation Education Union (SFEU) and our members in hospitality are in the Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers Union (SFHWU)

    Join us!