If people simply blame immigration for low wages something is missing in the reasoning surely? The left providing statistics that immigration is minimal is leaving open the implication that if it were higher there would be a problem.
I don't deny the role of supermarkets, but something that is being glossed over is 'consumer' responsibility for low wages. If we buy from supermarkets, Amazon, use courier delivery - be it for food or luxury goods - we are supporting precarious low paid employment and can hardly complain that wages are too low. I am in the under twelve grand income bracket and if I can buy ethically sourced produce anyone can.
There is an unofficial work economy in the UK, less than it was, but still here in take-away food, delivery and construction. There are also grass roots unions growing, though this is an uphill struggle - sadly UNITE says the right things but relies on direct debits so not much use. It is very hard for undocumented workers to organise. It would not be so hard for EU migrant workers, yet too often they don't.
Why this should be is complex - I have some experience of a legacy anti-communist inspired anti-union sentiment, via an ex-housemate. Understandable perhaps given eastern European history. Having a history of liberation movements helps - this is probably why the latin communities working in cleaning have got somewhere - I also have a little personal experience here. In my opinion ex-commonwealth citizens are more likely to organise than eastern Europeans. I therefore wonder if this might be part of the background to the UK having favoured EU migration over historic immigration from places where we have a colonial legacy? Still the fake self-employment and zero hours culture is a huge block.
Unions could do a lot to tackle this if the will is there. Last time I was involved in a union struggle at work all the part-timers were made redundant while the union claimed 'no redundancies' and celebrated a pay rise. Ok this is one instance, but pretty typical I think. Then again IWW puts a three day working week near the top of the priority list. Is this utopean or practical? Both I think.
100% 'the consumer' has a part to play in this.
But the too much power in too few hands multiples who control prices are most culpable.
Consumers understanding that on average only 8% of the farm gate price finds its way back to the primary producer , is powerful knowledge.
But those consumers need alternatives.
I agree the union organisation, and even the idea of cooperative working is anathema to many Eastern Europeans.
Collectivism, done badly, in a top down authoritarian manner, leaves workers no better off than any other totalitarian regime.
But genuinely grassroots up, worker controlled cooperatives, or producer to consumer set ups are becoming more common, as the problems caused by the current business as usual model , become apparent.
OTOH there are many in
genuine poverty - caused by wage suppression alongside ridiculous property prices, who really need help, and have to use food banks and so on..
'Ironically' a good proportion of these people are working in the low paid food industry.
A three day week that funds the essentials, food housing and essential bills .
Do more if you want some 'luxuries' like meals out, and a fancy holiday.
If our high tech world can't supply this then it's very poorly, organised..
Almost as if wealth creation via capitalism, which requires poor people to exist, is regarded as more important than quality of life, environmental protection, and human fulfilment..
Almost as if.....
