Does every little help?

Published on 18th January 2007 in Letters

Sir,

Open Letter to Tesco

I have followed the comments of various contributors over the past couple of months regards the proposed new Tesco distribution centre for Goole. Tesco under the Chief Executive Sir Terry Leahy is an unprecedented success in the retail world, Tesco is the first retailer to unveil annual profits of more than £2 billion, with continued growth and more jobs being created this is indeed a welcome sign, so why would anyone have any concerns?

According to the Tesco website, the company recognise they serve a large number of communities in which staff both live and work, therefore the company recognise that they have a wider responsibility in society and have launched a community plan to respond to these issues and environmental concerns. Tesco are spending £100 million on environmental concerns so perhaps they can help with the Oakhill project. Whilst most people would welcome the additional jobs the proposed new development would bring to the town, anyone who has seen Oakhill would recognise its potential for the community, this indeed can be a jewel in the crown for our town and add value to the industrial estate.

I would therefore request Tesco to convene a meeting so as to inform the local community, as stakeholders, regards their proposed development. The main concerns are that two-thirds of the proposed new employees will allegedly be employed as pickers in the new distribution centre. My concern and that of others, is that these employees are highly likely to be employed not by Tesco but by agencies who pay lower rates of pay than Tesco, and in the case of migrant workers it is the norm for this to be the minimum wage, with deductions then made for accommodation and travel. Such practice, if adopted here, will do nothing for the local economy. In any event, as this is the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, I for one do not want to see a modern-day slavery created on the backs of workers, be they migrant or UK workers.

To make matters worse, the norm is also that such agencies do not afford these staff to access to a trade union. The trade union that Teco recognises, USDAW, and its members have contributed massively to the success of Tesco, so there is no reason why all of the staff should not have access to the union, unless of course there is an agenda regards pay and conditions of employment.

So come on, Tesco, allay these fears and then we can all look forward to increased jobs and an upturn in the economy of our town. As the saying goes - EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

Keith Moore