RECRUITMENT AND ORGANISING ALDI AND LIDL IN SIGHT Discounters Lidl and Aldi are keen to promote their cheap prices but much less likely to publicise their hostility to trade unions. Activists targeted stores across all divisions in June to reach out to staff (some who have joined already) and offer them the benefits and protection of union membership. General secretary John Hannett said: “In the 21st century it’s disgraceful that some companies still have a 19th century attitude to trade unions. “Workers in the discount sector have as much right as anyone else to join a union and make the case for better terms and conditions. “These companies are hitting the headlines in terms of growth but their attitudes to trade unions have to be exposed. “The best people to speak up for staff are the workers themselves organised in a professional trade union like Usdaw with more than 120 years experience in the retail trade. “There are no no-go companies for Usdaw as this campaign has highlighted and we will continue to offer our services to staff at Aldi and Lidl.” Network has seen an internal email memo sent by Aldi to its store managers telling them to call the police if union recruiters refuse to leave the premises or company-owned land. In the email Aldi states ‘it does not believe it is in the interests of its staff or customers for it to recognise Usdaw’ and encourages store managers to ‘dispose’ of any recruitment material left in the stores. It also claims it acts in the best interests of its staff on pay, conditions, and health and safety. The company email says it is also ‘not committing anything to writing as it’s likely to end up in union hands’...at least it was right on one issue! 1 Officials and reps drive the recruitment campaign at Lidl and Aldi stores across the country 2 3 7 8 4 5 6 1. Lidl Rusholme, Manchester 2. Aldi, Pitsea 3. Lidl, South Wales 4. Lidl, Thornhill Southampton 5. Lidl, Battersea 6. Lidl, Poole 7. Usdaw the Trade Union for Aldi Workers (leaflet 411) available at www.usdaw.org.uk /aldi 8. Usdaw the Trade Union for Lidl Workers (leaflet 412) available at www.usdaw.org.uk /lidl Network July/August 2015 13