Across the country, big businesses are attempting to keep non-essential production going. We publish here a letter by a worker at a Screwfix store in London, who describes yet another example of how the bosses are putting profits before lives.
Kingfisher, the parent company of hardware retailers B&Q and Screwfix, has had to close 221 stores in France and 21 stores in Spain. But it has kept the majority of its 682 stores running in the UK.
I work in the Bromley store, where it became apparent to employees that there were serious risks to staff and customers if we were to remain open. Only very recently – since Screwfix has been allowed to continue business as an ‘essential’ retailer – have any health and safety measures been put in place.
It was only after media coverage of staff at the Stafford and Lichfield Screwfix distribution centres complaining about conditions that our branch manager made any attempt to enforce distancing between people.
Though the warehouse is a tight environment, it is impossible to put away all the delivery whilst doing this, and we handle all the same areas. Counters; totes and dollies; click-and-collect bags; and the handles on the roller racking shelving: all this inevitably involves the constant flouting of two metre distance guidelines.
Impossible choice
Each day, staff await updates from upper management. In the meantime, employees have been using public transport to get to work. I use two buses in each direction. Many have complained about cold symptoms; others are vulnerable with underlying health conditions.
Despite operations being limited, we have been fully staffed every day. We have not been provided with advice on hand washing. And our only guidance on social distancing comes through the despotic policing by management – holding bars between people to indicate when they are too close.
Employees are angry at still having to come into work during the pandemic, putting away deliveries of non-essential items such as lawnmowers and fence paint; fulfilling click-and-collect orders for the many DIY customers coming every day.
The only answers from management are that if we are not comfortable coming in, it’s our choice to stay at home, without receiving pay. The company has mentioned furloughs, but none have taken place in our store.
Tensions and walkouts
Today was the most shocking. There was a power problem requiring roadworks that could take a number of days to fix it. As a result, nothing was up and running. No lights inside; no systems to process items or deliveries; and no running hot water.
There was also no hand sanitiser in the store. Upon hearing employees’ concerns about this, the area manager simply suggested we use gloves and wipes.
The already tense mood increased. Many workers mentioned not wanting to come in, saying that they would take a disciplinary record and go home. They discussed what would happen if they planned a walk out.
I’m the only person at this store who has union membership. But today people have had enough, and have encouraged me to contact the union, Unite. The majority have shown a strong interest in joining and striking.
Furlough workers on full wages!
Throughout the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, the company has shown that their priority is to continue business. Management is completely dismissive and aloof to workers concerns.
It’s clear they should be furloughing workers and shutting stores. They should be paying furloughed workers their full wages – out of the accumulated profits produced by the exploitation of these same workers. No employee should be asked to choose between their health or their wage.
We must demand: 100% wages for furloughed workers! Close all non essential shops! Implement full health and safety measures under workers’ control!
