A day in the life of an agency worker
We need real work, with real contracts, and trade union representation
An agency worker
Following a six-month period on furlough, I took voluntary redundancy from the factory I'd worked at since leaving school. At 61, I felt I'd like to try something different, and the work in the factory was getting heavier and the twelve-hour night shifts harder.
My job search demonstrated immediately that 'unskilled' workers' are victims of parasitic agencies that work for employers. Work can almost only be found online. You may see an ad reading 'Royal Mail jobs'. But by clicking on the link you go directly to an agency. A dozen jobs may be on view, almost all minimum wage and none of them with Royal Mail.
I use Royal Mail as an example, but the ad could be for Tesco or Sainsbury's, or indeed any major employer. But on further investigation none of those companies are hiring. Just minimum wage, factory, warehouse work, and the like.
I eventually took one such job for a major British company, obviously working for an agency and on minimum wage. When I arrived, there were about 15 new workers, five for each of the three different shifts. All of the other workers were young people (under 30). All seemed intelligent and keen to work hard. The first thing we did was split into three groups. Our group of five watched a ten-minute video of manual handling, then signed about 20 booklets on various aspects, to say we understood the company's safety rules.
When I questioned why we were signing before our training, rather than at the end of it, the trainer replied: "That's how we always do it." We were told we would be treated exactly the same as workers who were employed by the company - except if we went home ill, we wouldn't get paid. I asked if we were on the same pay as company employees? No. There were other differences too, such as overtime.
One of the lads I spoke to had been working for Amazon, but had left because all the previous week he had received a phone call at 6pm telling him not to go to work the next day. One lad had been an engineer in the army, but found this was the only type of work he could get, although he did say he hoped to go back in the army.
These workers are in temporary, unstable work, with little hope of full-time work in the future.
We must fight to make these practices illegal. We need real work, with real contracts, and trade union representation. Dignity at work should be a right not a privilege. If capitalism can't provide that then we must fight for a society that can - socialism.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 20 January 2021:
News
Make the super-rich pay, not the poorest
Bosses profit out of 'starvation' food parcels
Teachers: On the front line, in their own words
Peace and Justice Project - no way forward for socialism
Millionaire tendency regains control of Scottish Labour
Covid-19
The Tory blame game: scapegoating the working class - 100% pay for all now
Covid: Bosses chase profit and put workers in danger
Vaccine confidence - a worker's response
Life in lockdown - being home from school when you're poor is hard
NHS
Black Lives Matter
Police use Covid laws to intimidate BLM protesters
New Cross Gate fire 40 years ago
International News
USA in crisis - the need for a socialist alternative
Trump Twitter ban: only independent workers' voice can defeat right
Workplace
PCS Broad Left Network conference
Rolls-Royce Barnoldswick factory future secured following strike action
Morrisons - £10/hr headline hides divisive pay offer
A day in the life of an agency worker
Students
Plymouth rent strike continues
Scrap fees, refund rents and pay a living grant
Campaigns
London's May elections: Tories and Labour's Khan both vying to slash public services
Socialist Party national women's meeting
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Christmas Crossword Competition
Readers' Opinion
Books that inspired me: The Road to Wigan Pier
Obituary
Home | The Socialist 20 January 2021 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook