No Tesco – people before profit!
0 Comments Published by Tom Woodcock on Friday, December 14, 2007 at 4:00 PM.
;:The ‘No Mill Road Tesco’ campaign is a fantastic illustration of how the community can work together – we must now turn the energy into victory and build the confidence to stand up for our public services and the whole communities needs.
The threat of Tesco opening a store in Mill Road has sparked a vibrant and broad campaign - which Respect fully support.
The campaign has also shown that the community can make a difference if we act together. We can stop Tesco but the battle must not stop there!
Tesco’s is just one multinational that benefits from the cosy relationship big business has with government.
Defend Public Services
New Labour touts for cash from the wealthy – In return the government continues to sell them our public services at a bargain prices. Gordon Brown has cut corporation tax, bailed out private investors and let business bosses like Digby Jones into the Cabinet.
Romsey could loose Brookfield’s Hospital. The PCT is cutting back whilst privately outsourced services reap record profits.
In Cambridge Community education and library facilities have been cut. several local schools including Parkside Federation are seeking trust status- a move that will hand over assets to business and end any democratic accountability.
Free dentistry and eye care has long gone – the government is talking about supermarkets and high street chemists like ‘Boots’ taking over other parts of our health service too.
The Lib Dems are selling the sheltered housing. It seems every last corner of Romsey is being developed for private flats, yet no investment has been made in new council housing.
6000 families are on the housing waiting list. Yet of 10,000 homes proposed at Marshall only 40% are supposed to be ‘affordable’ -none are council!
Stop Privatisation
The transport infrastructure is stretched but not satisfied with selling the buses and trains they now want to hand over the roads so we can be charged for them too.
Cost of living rises but government announces a pay freeze holding down public sector wages below inflation until 2011. In the case of the post office the government aim is to dismantle it in order to sell of the profitable bits.
Tesco maybe the most visible multinational in this process of ‘neo liberal Globalisation’ but others corporations are queuing up in order to take profit from our services and put nothing back. It is the public that looses.
Fight Back
We need to build movements that can take them on. We can fight back in community struggle like ‘No Mill Road Tesco’. Through trade union activity and in movements like Stop the War and defend council housing.
However we also need political representation. We must link these movements as well as raising the fight in the council chambers. That is why building the Respect Coalition is a first step to closing this democratic gap.
The threat of Tesco opening a store in Mill Road has sparked a vibrant and broad campaign - which Respect fully support.
The campaign has also shown that the community can make a difference if we act together. We can stop Tesco but the battle must not stop there!
Tesco’s is just one multinational that benefits from the cosy relationship big business has with government.
Defend Public Services
New Labour touts for cash from the wealthy – In return the government continues to sell them our public services at a bargain prices. Gordon Brown has cut corporation tax, bailed out private investors and let business bosses like Digby Jones into the Cabinet.
Romsey could loose Brookfield’s Hospital. The PCT is cutting back whilst privately outsourced services reap record profits.
In Cambridge Community education and library facilities have been cut. several local schools including Parkside Federation are seeking trust status- a move that will hand over assets to business and end any democratic accountability.
Free dentistry and eye care has long gone – the government is talking about supermarkets and high street chemists like ‘Boots’ taking over other parts of our health service too.
The Lib Dems are selling the sheltered housing. It seems every last corner of Romsey is being developed for private flats, yet no investment has been made in new council housing.
6000 families are on the housing waiting list. Yet of 10,000 homes proposed at Marshall only 40% are supposed to be ‘affordable’ -none are council!
Stop Privatisation
The transport infrastructure is stretched but not satisfied with selling the buses and trains they now want to hand over the roads so we can be charged for them too.
Cost of living rises but government announces a pay freeze holding down public sector wages below inflation until 2011. In the case of the post office the government aim is to dismantle it in order to sell of the profitable bits.
Tesco maybe the most visible multinational in this process of ‘neo liberal Globalisation’ but others corporations are queuing up in order to take profit from our services and put nothing back. It is the public that looses.
Fight Back
We need to build movements that can take them on. We can fight back in community struggle like ‘No Mill Road Tesco’. Through trade union activity and in movements like Stop the War and defend council housing.
However we also need political representation. We must link these movements as well as raising the fight in the council chambers. That is why building the Respect Coalition is a first step to closing this democratic gap.
Labels: Local Respect, No Tesco
Defend Local Traders/defend choice
Respect is not opposed to those who shop in supermarkets, we are opposed to the supermarket monopoly. Their power limits choice and jeopardies diversity.
Demand good food for working people
The use of additives, colouring a flavouring has enabled supermarkets to increase profits and lower the quality of food by increasing shelf life and enhancing its taste and appearance.
Reduce food miles
The way Tesco seeks maximum profit, as well as the 'just in time' distribution strategy, increases the transportation of products all over the globe as well as up and down the country.
Solidarity with Global South
The worlds poor are getting poorer. The multinational agro-industrial complex forces many farmers off land and into sweatshops or worse. Many farmers are forced into debt and suicide is far to common. Multinationals also divert vital water sources away from local people in order to maximize farming or food production.
For Workers rights
The average Tesco employee earns £11,000 a year, the chief executive earns £4m. Tesco exploit vulnerable people - many part times, on a high turnover with little of few benifits and paid just above the minimum wage.
Stand up for migrant Labour
Supermarkets make enormous profits (Tescos up by £13bn last year) by pushing producers to cut corners, employ gang masters and create unacceptable working conditions.
Environmental Impact of Agribusiness
Intensive farming of cash crops using fertilisers and without long them planning is having a huge impact on important ecosystems. Switching crops on global demand often leads to massive over production in one crop. In the case of Bbio-fuels this has lead to staple food shortages in some countries.
Too close to government
The big supermarkets maintain and increase their monopoly through huge lobbying power and many have long histories of funding the three main parties. Tesco's fund the Lib Dem's and the Tory Party and Lord Sainsbury is in the New Labour Government.
Respect is not opposed to those who shop in supermarkets, we are opposed to the supermarket monopoly. Their power limits choice and jeopardies diversity.
Demand good food for working people
The use of additives, colouring a flavouring has enabled supermarkets to increase profits and lower the quality of food by increasing shelf life and enhancing its taste and appearance.
Reduce food miles
The way Tesco seeks maximum profit, as well as the 'just in time' distribution strategy, increases the transportation of products all over the globe as well as up and down the country.
Solidarity with Global South
The worlds poor are getting poorer. The multinational agro-industrial complex forces many farmers off land and into sweatshops or worse. Many farmers are forced into debt and suicide is far to common. Multinationals also divert vital water sources away from local people in order to maximize farming or food production.
For Workers rights
The average Tesco employee earns £11,000 a year, the chief executive earns £4m. Tesco exploit vulnerable people - many part times, on a high turnover with little of few benifits and paid just above the minimum wage.
Stand up for migrant Labour
Supermarkets make enormous profits (Tescos up by £13bn last year) by pushing producers to cut corners, employ gang masters and create unacceptable working conditions.
Environmental Impact of Agribusiness
Intensive farming of cash crops using fertilisers and without long them planning is having a huge impact on important ecosystems. Switching crops on global demand often leads to massive over production in one crop. In the case of Bbio-fuels this has lead to staple food shortages in some countries.
Too close to government
The big supermarkets maintain and increase their monopoly through huge lobbying power and many have long histories of funding the three main parties. Tesco's fund the Lib Dem's and the Tory Party and Lord Sainsbury is in the New Labour Government.
Labels: Local Respect, No Tesco
