Stead McAlpin: Protesting in London

Sacked Stead McAlpine workers from Carlisle protest in London, photo Neil Cafferky

Last week The Socialist reported on the sacking of Stead McAlpin workers in Carlisle. Stead McAlpin's parent company Apex recently bought the firm from John Lewis Partnership, who had assured workers that all benefits, including enhanced redundancy payments, would be honoured.

Neil Cafferky

Instead, over half the workforce was brutally sacked with less than 20 minutes notice and with only the minimum statutory redundancy not the redundancy terms promised by John Lewis. For some workers with over 30 years' service this has meant payments of Ł8,000 rather than Ł40,000.

On 17 April a busload of Stead McAlpin workers arrived at John Lewis' London headquarters. They picketed for four hours to highlight the dishonest role John Lewis has played.

John Lewis management agreed to meet a delegation of the workers. Unfortunately they had little to offer beyond sympathy for the workers' plight. However many people passing by and particularly staff from the head office were shocked by John Lewis' behaviour.

Sacked Stead McAlpine workers from Carlisle protest in London, photo Neil Cafferky

As Chris Oates, one of the organisers of the protest put it: "I believe these people, Apex, are doing the job John Lewis couldn't, wouldn't do.

They (John Lewis) are telling the media that everyone is a co-owner of the business. But nobody that works for John Lewis is a co-owner of the business. It's the same as every other capitalistic (firm). It's exactly the same, them at the top, they've got the money and they do what they want.

Nobody in John Lewis is a co-owner or a partner, there's no such thing. What they've done to us just proves that. We've come to London to tell people who they are working for and don't believe what they're saying."

After fruitless discussions with John Lewis management, the workers folded up their banners and made their way to Oxford Street to picket the main John Lewis store. This route took them close to parliament.

Police pounce

Sacked Stead McAlpine workers from Carlisle protest in London, photo Neil Cafferky

Then a group of 15 police officers jumped out of their vans and accosted the workers in a very aggressive fashion, accusing them of having an illegal demonstration!

This was met with much bemusement by all present, who pointed out they were simply trying to make their way towards Oxford Street.

The police insisted that the group take the back streets away from parliament before they would let them leave.

The picket outside Oxford Street got huge support from the general public, with the exception of the store management who stood about looking glum as the flood of customers going into the store slowed to a trickle. One manager asked the workers to leave while of course expressing his sympathy.

John Lewis seems to have an abundance of good wishes for the workers but sympathy will not pay the mortgage or put food on the table. Only the money John Lewis has cheated these men and women out of will do that!

The workers now plan further demonstrations in Carlisle and a picket of John Lewis stores in Newcastle, with the assistance of the Socialist Party.