Tim Martin,Wetherspoons & the importance of trade union rights
Tim Martin and Wetherspoons have been in the news again:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54144130
In fact the news was promoted by Martin himself as he revealed that relatively few workers in his pubs (there are 841) have tested positive for COVID-19 on his figures anyway.
Due particularly to his support for Brexit (I voted remain) Martin attracts a certain kind of social media criticism. To this is added those who are temperance campaigners who don’t want any pubs and those who want pubs shut indefinitely, more or less always, without getting around to mentioning the need for furlough for the millions of workers this would impact (which is at least Labour policy btw). A reminder that there is social irresponsibility to be found on all sides of the matter.
Martin’s remarks have also been seized upon by the COVID-19 deniers to argue that concerns are overplayed. I don’t agree.
Martin’s point is that in terms of transmission of COVID-19 pubs are not particularly dangerous places. In respect of pubs generally, that is likely to be correct (stopped clock and all that).The safety measures pubs are required to take by law and the reality of closure if they don’t doesn’t of course make them 100% safe but certainly reduces risk. That of course is the point of the measures.
Whether this applies to Wetherspoons pubs on the customer side I cant say because I don’t go in.
There is evidence though that conditions for Wetherspoons workers are less satisfactory. Martin doesn’t recognise unions where workers can flag issues and expect independent action so we might wonder how accurate his figures are for staff who have got COVID.
After all he also doesn’t pay the living wage and a well-known concern is those who may be unwell but cant afford time off sick.
We can all complain about Martin and many do but in the tussle between capital and labour its collective organisation and strength that makes employers act properly
In the meantime take care out there and keep in mind that one of the key reasons pubs exist is that they are controlled social environments (and like everything there are exceptions. If you find one please report it to your local Environmental health officer).
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