GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

I would say, comrades, another way it has inspired, and I use this all over the

place, we have members in Wetherspoons, so it is not just McDonalds or

Burger King. In Wetherspoons in Scarborough our members felt inspired that

they could take action and actually took it and I believe for one of the right

reasons, and that was when the EDL, the English Defence League, wanted to

march through the streets of Scarborough and they wanted to go into

Wetherspoons and have a drink. Our members walked out to make sure that

they never got served a pint within Wetherspoons. (Applause) So these are a

group of people who have inspired thousands of workers. If you look in this

country (and I think I said it in one of the speeches I made to the 2015

conference) these fast food companies thrive on the poverty and the despair of

the people that they employ. I do not know what the difference is (and maybe I

need to speak to the likes of you and other young people), where the trigger is

between 24 and 25. At 25 you get the living wage and at 24 you get something

a lot less. I understand that if you go into Tesco or whatever a tin of beans is

the same price when you are 24 and 364 days as when you are 25. It is an

absolute con and the Conservatives have announced today that the living wage

that was going to be £9.20 in 2020, they are now going to make it £8.20, so

you have lost a quid per hour without even getting it. That is the reality.

I would also, alongside Barbara, say that what we have to do is we have to

make sure that we get out and we campaign for this £10 an hour and it is not

Jeremy’s campaign, because we were the union who started the £10 Now, but

success has many fathers and I do not care who latches on to it, as long as

workers start getting the right rates of pay. So, comrades, yes, let’s get out on June 8 th , let’s support our workers to make sure that we do get £10 an hour, but I think it would be really nice that on 23 rd May when the next round of major

strikes within the USA in the fast food industry take place that maybe we could

get a message to them from the GFTU that says, “We are with you and we

support your cause”. Thank you, comrades. (Applause)

I have tried to check, but I can’t, my Shakespearian quote which I believe is

from the Tempest is: “When your backs are up against the wall, never nudge

your nanny when she’s shaving”. (Laughter)

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