Support the Reinstate Richie Venton Campaign
Over 5,000 people including hundreds of trade unionists have signed an open letter to Ikea demanding sacked Usdaw union rep Richie Venton is reinstated.
He was sacked in July for fighting cuts to sick pay. The letter has been signed by the general secretary of the food workers’ union BFAWU as well as representatives of PCS, Unison, Unite, RMT, GMB, FBU, CWU, TSSA, EIS, Aslef, NUJ, Bectu, Prospect and Usdaw.
Last weekend, Fermanagh trade unionists staged a socially distanced protest at Enniskillen town centre, in Richie’s native County Fermanagh.
Shoppers stopped, listened to the speeches, shocked at such union busting.
The protest was hosted by Militant Left member and local cross community socialist councillor Donal O’Cofaigh who read out Richie Venton’s message to the Enniskillen solidarity picket.
The video can be watched here
The Reinstate Richie Venton campaign commented:
The truth is spreading!
Your support has put IKEA bosses on the run – help us keep after them until they have reinstated Richie Venton, and reinstated sick workers’ wages: full average pay for sick or isolating workers.
Workers who cannot afford to be off sick are more likely to get sick, and more likely to make others sick. Full average pay for sick or isolating workers is vital to preserving workplace and public health, especially in the pandemic. Effective Trade Union representation, without victimisation or retribution from the bosses, is also essential.
You can build the campaign for IKEA to reinstate Richie Venton and reinstate sick workers’ wages by continuing to spread the message in your workplace and Trade Union.
Have you contacted your elected representatives yet? Get in touch with your local MP and call on them to support Early Day Motion 797.
Thousands of you have already signed the petition calling on IKEA to reinstate Richie Venton and reinstate sick workers’ wages. We’re asking you, now, to encourage 2 friends, relatives, colleagues, and comrades to do the same. You can find the petition here.
