On Saturday 16th October members of Northampton SolFed set up stall on what appeared to be public space outside the MK shopping centre, to hand out leaflets and Catalyst to members of the public. Within minutes of setting up we were approached by security guards, and a Police Community Support Worker who informed us that we were trespassing on Private Property and would have to leave! It seems that free speech isn’t so free in MK centre!
After a lengthy discussion, during which we continued to hand out our wares and speak to passers by, we were eventually forced to relocate on the footpath adjacent to the area.
After a couple of hours we headed off to Gap and Zara to hand a letter to the managers and staff, concerning the sacking of 35 trade unionists. The union members were working in a factory for ‘Topy Top’, one of the major suppliers to high street store Zara, and also a supplier for Gap.
opy Top employees often work 12 hour shifts and some are forced to survive on very low wages. According to a 2008 report by the Fair Labor Association: 60+ hour weeks are common, there are no health and safety measures, and bullying and “brutal harassment” are routine.
We believe exploitation and harassment must be opposed whenever and wherever it exists. We stand in solidarity with the workers of Topy Top. Their struggle is our struggle. An injury to one is an injury to all!
We succeeded in handing the letter to the manager and staff of Gap, but no sooner had we entered Zara that we were surrounded by security guards. We succeeded only in handing the letter to the manager before being forced to leave.