As always, the agenda for ADM is full and varied with many proposi-tions set to provoke debate. Something set to be a key discus-sion, will be the motion concerning funds paid by Usdaw to the Labour Party, especially given that a motion by Llanelli branch to discuss the link to Labour itself has been blocked by the leadership. The motion Dundee PT correctly criticises Labour atti-tude to trade unions and can give the basis for a potentially wider de-bate about Usdaw's relationship with Labour and political represen-tation for trade unionists.

Also taking place in the politics de-bate will be a motion submitted by Fallowfield on t h e L a b o u r Party's 'Energy Price Pledge', whilst the Activist agrees with the motion we would point delegates toward the Amendment by Sussex No. 1 which goes further and calls for the re-nationalisation of the en-ergy companies under democratic workers control. This is the only

way to truly ensure control over our energy and its cost. Another proposition calling for na-tionalisation is motion by Leeds PT,

Zero-Hour Contracts: Miliband’s

Proposals Aren’t Good Enough

Find out more: usdawactivist.wordpress.com / usdawactivist@gmail.com / Facebook: ‘Usdaw Activist’

the Activist Issue 50

2014 ADM Special

Bulletin of Socialist Party members in

We Need A Fighting, Democratic Usdaw Activist Fringe meeting at ADM 2014 6pm, Sunday 4th May - Britannia Room, Ruskin Hotel, Albert Road, FY1 4PW Speakers include: Amy Murphy, Usdaw EC (personal capacity) Rob Williams, Socialist Party trade union organiser

A year - that’s how long Ed Miliband expects workers to try and survive on a zero-hour contract before they can demand a contractual guaran-tee of the hours they are working. As most shopworkers on insecure hours will know, employers will sim-ply drop workers hours or find other loopholes to get around Labour’s proposed legislation. The Activist believes zero-hour con-tracts should be banned—workers should be able to sign up for a guaranteed number of hours each week. They should also be able to get full-time work in a company if that work exists, rather than the current practise of hiring lots of people on zero or short-hour con-tracts and playing us off against

each other. This would also have to be backed up by a will-ingness to call action to secure such agreements as the Baker’s union did last year at Hovis. But this isn’t the only issue where Labour are letting workers down. Time and again we pass policy at ADM that Labour ignores - two years ago our ADM demanded the repeal of the anti-union laws. Instead what we get is a Labour shadow minister, Tristram Hunt, part of the Usdaw group of MPs, openly crossing a picket line. Mili-band has so far failed to publicly

support strikers at Care UK in Don-caster. We need a political voice that stands up for workers - that’s why 550 trade unionists are standing for TUSC in this May’s elections. For more info visit - tusc.org.uk

Packed Agenda for ADM: The Activist’s Guide

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be

standing over 550 candidates in next May’s local elections

Bulletin of Socialist Party members in USDAW

Find out more: usdawactivist.wordpress.com / usdawactivist@gmail.com / Facebook: ‘Usdaw Activist’

What Recovery? We want our share! Fight together for a pay rise!

8th annual conference takes place on Saturday 5th July - 11am - 5pm

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Hoborn, London, WC1R 4RL

Speakers include: Ronnie Draper - BFAWU General

Secretary, Steve Gillan - POA General Secretary, Janice Godrich - PCS President See www.shopstewards.net for info

which not only opposes the privati-sation of the East Coast Main Line but also calls for the public owner-ship of all public transport. Given the number of young people and students currently working in retail it welcome that a range of propositions discuss issues pertain-ing to them. The proposition by Lla-nelli on launching a campaign to abolish tuition fees is another im-portant proposition. The Cardiff Tesco House proposal to change the name of the union’s youth commit-tees would bring it into line with the TUC’s recent changes. The Activist believes that zero hour contracts are one of the key issues facing shop workers at the moment, so its therefore welcome that there are no less than 8 propositions on the matter. No doubt, some of these will be composited together and we advocated backing compos-ites that call for abolition of zero-hour contracts, but think it is also crucial that prior to the possibility of their abolition Usdaw should take steps itself to organise such workers and win improved contracts with guaranteed minimum number of hours. There are however, a number of propositions which we believe

should be opposed. There is a dan-gerous attempt to advocate ‘equality of poverty’ in a proposition on discrimination against ethnic mi-norities by East of Scotland Tesco. The resolution on the European Un-ion by West of Scotland Morrisons attempts to cover-up the anti-worker character of the EU which is attempting to push through privati-sation of public services and under-mining pay. One proposition we believe many delegates will have questions over is by Wincanton Sherburn-in-Elmet branch. Most of its members left to join Unite a little over a year ago. Usdaw members as a whole have never had a proper accounting of what transpired there - delegates deserve answers to questions about whether Unite was organising on the site previously, and why mem-bers would leave if they were get-ting a good service? The Activist put out a statement at the time arguing that those workers should have fought for Usdaw to adopt a fight-ing strategy to improve their condi-tions. Delegates will surely bare in mind that if we are to stop the con-tinuing assault on pay and condi-tions in distribution then we will need to link up with other unions in the sector to beat the bosses.

S1 will as usual be a heated source of debate - we are sure that dele-gates will be keen to question why the AO posts promised weren’t ad-vertised immediately as was stated at last year’s ADM and why overall FTO numbers are less than in 2001. One issue that won't be on the agenda paper, but will be in the minds of delegates is that of the serious expenses allegations made against the General Secretary, John H a n n e t t , b y t h e u s -daw.wordpress.com blog.

A previous Activist statement, on usdawactivist.wordpress.com, ar-gues that, while these should be investigated by the EC, the blog makes no criticism of Hannett and the leadership's policies that have offered no fight back to retail work-ers.

We urge all delegates to attend the meeting Activist will be hosting (advertised overleaf), not just to address issues of union democracy and accountability but all of the is-sues facing retail and distribution and how we can build a fighting un-ion - particularly given the upcom-ing EC and presidential elections where we believe a broad challenge to most of the incumbents is neces-sary.

Cont. - Come to the Activist meeting Sunday 6pm

New pamphlet We Need… A Socialist, Fighting Usdaw

Includes articles on zero-hour contracts, partnership, union democracy, young workers, Labour Party as well as an obituary for the late Robbie Segal, former EC member

Special offer for ADM - £2