Tesco’s stores were today picketed by protesters angry at their involvement in the workfare scheme.
London
In London, the Westminster Tesco’s was closed while protesters were removed by police. Protesters chanted ‘Tesco bosses hear us say, we won’t work if you won’t pay’. There were no arrests reported.
Leeds
A dozen people held a protest outside the Tesco’s in Leeds, lots of passersby stopped to take leaflets and talk about their disgust over the scheme. Unfortunately the manager refused to sign our pledge not to use the workfare scheme, and said he would be emailing his superiors about the protest. They probably already know.
Manchester
Holding signs and banners against workfare slavery, around fifty activists chanted slogans outside Tesco on Market Street, giving out leaflets and talking to passers by. A McDonalds worker fed up with low wages himself came to show his support and many people on the busy street were outraged at what Tescos is doing. Disgracefully, the store manager refused to sign our pledge promising that all staff in his shop should be paid in line with normal terms and conditions! Instead he hid behind some burly security and called the police. Protesters promised to give him until 3rd March to reconsider… when we will be back.
Tesco’s have tried to play down the growing row – putting it down to a ‘computer error’. But the reality is that Tesco’s has benefitted from the work of more than 1400 mainly young people, and they are not alone.
Dozens of major companies have been quietly profiting at the expense of the taxpayer and unemployed for over a year. These protests are part of a campaign to make companies decide this scheme isn’t worth the hassle.
We want the government to abolish all compulsory unpaid work schemes, and demand that all work is paid at least the minimum wage.
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