Britain, Solidarity Federation,PICKETS AND CHIPS ON THE SEAFRONT

Since our last update, the Brighton Hospitality Workers have been making a name for 
themselves. With a successful campaign against a grocery and two more campaigns on the go, 
we're here to bring you an insider report into how things are going with SolFed's union 
initiative. Although they have several victories under their belts, one particularly nasty 
business owner is proving a harder nut to crack. ---- This business happens to be Maris, a 
caf? situated on West Street in Brighton, with a boss who has a reputation for being a 
racist bully boy who exploits young migrant women for illegally-low-paid work. According 
to the interviewee, the person they are working with is owed ?870 after being paid ?1 per 
hour less than minimum wage (as well as the cheque being late). The boss has told 
activists 'no-one pays more than ?6 per hour in Brighton, even the bus company and Tesco'. 
While wages are low, most companies at least manage the legal
minimum.

As any other campaign would go, they started out by agreeing on a written demand
letter for whatever sum is owed, then when demands weren't met they escalated to
a picket on the storefront. After this escalation the owner decided to pay the
protestors a visit and became aggressive. So, in retaliation the protestors went
back the same day and two were physically attacked by the owner. Then after all
protestors left, the owner called police claiming harassment.

Although this campaign has been a hard one, some good moments have come up,
including an increase of their member count to roughly 70 members. They have
also gained enough of a reputation for business owners to walk out of their
shops and watch over the Hospitality Workers, to see if their business is a
target.

According to the anonymous interviewee, future plans are to turn this into an
official union for all hospitality workers.

Wish to get involved? Maybe you could do similar defence of workers rights where
you live?

Email: brighton@solfed.org.uk


http://www.schnews.org.uk/stories/PICKETS-AND-CHIPS-ON-THE-SEAFRONT