Giant companies are using the cover of Coronavirus to drive down wages, health and safety standards, jobs and sick pay. And they are quite prepared to victimise union reps who stand up to them.

IKEA sacked USDAW shop steward Richie Venton for opposing the removal of full average wages from sick workers, and for informing the union members who elected him of these plans.

Richie is the first shop steward to be deprived of his job and income in a dispute over workers’ safety during the pandemic. We need to make sure he’s the last to face this anti-union victimisation.

Taking on the might of giant companies costs money to campaign, and Richie has been deprived of his wages since July. That could be the fate of any other victimised union reps who resist the employers' attacks on workers.

This crowdfunding appeal is for a Scottish Workers’ Solidarity Fund, to counter the hardship caused and campaign against the victimisation of any workers' representatives in Scotland.

Thank you to all for your solidarity and support!