A solidarity picket was held yesterday evening at Tesco on Roundhay Road, Leeds in support of Polish workers in Ireland who were laid off after complaining about wages and working conditions.
Solidarity Picket
Roundhay Road
Giving out information
Radek Sawicki and Zbyszek Bukala were employed by Grafton employment agency as warehouse operatives working for Tesco Greenhills Rd distribution centre in Dublin. They campaigned against the continuous raising of production targets from 750 boxes a day, to 800, then 900 and then 1000.
They were both laid off following protest actions including Radek Sawicki turning up for work in a 'We are picking 800, no more' T shirt.
This sparked the formation of the Tesco Temps Defence Committee, which was formed to push for the reinstatement of Sawicki and Bukala, contracts for agency staff after 3 months on the job (agency workers get paid 320 Euros per week, contracted staff get 500), and cancellation of the '1000 a day' production target.
The picket in Leeds started outside the entrance to the store, where we tried to target Tesco workers, but we were quickly moved on to the main road outside. We though it would be much more difficult to make contact with people here, but were surprised when almost every car leaving Tesco stopped to take some information or ask what the picket was about. Tesco customers were very supportive. Some customers said things like 'Thanks for doing this, I hate Tescos!' or 'I must find somewhere else to shop.' One shopper joined us on the picket line.
Some Tesco workers waved their support from the store, and Tesco delivery drivers took information too.
We thought we were being optimistic when we took 600 leaflets to distribute. Actually we could have distributed more. When Tesco called the police, even they took a leaflet and left us to it.
We were very encouraged by the support shown by Tesco customers and staff. I hope the workers in Dublin will be too.
They were both laid off following protest actions including Radek Sawicki turning up for work in a 'We are picking 800, no more' T shirt.
This sparked the formation of the Tesco Temps Defence Committee, which was formed to push for the reinstatement of Sawicki and Bukala, contracts for agency staff after 3 months on the job (agency workers get paid 320 Euros per week, contracted staff get 500), and cancellation of the '1000 a day' production target.
The picket in Leeds started outside the entrance to the store, where we tried to target Tesco workers, but we were quickly moved on to the main road outside. We though it would be much more difficult to make contact with people here, but were surprised when almost every car leaving Tesco stopped to take some information or ask what the picket was about. Tesco customers were very supportive. Some customers said things like 'Thanks for doing this, I hate Tescos!' or 'I must find somewhere else to shop.' One shopper joined us on the picket line.
Some Tesco workers waved their support from the store, and Tesco delivery drivers took information too.
We thought we were being optimistic when we took 600 leaflets to distribute. Actually we could have distributed more. When Tesco called the police, even they took a leaflet and left us to it.
We were very encouraged by the support shown by Tesco customers and staff. I hope the workers in Dublin will be too.
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