He joined
Usdaw's staff as an area organiser in 1969, was appointed a national officer in 1978 and elected general secretary in 1985.
A
USDAW insider said: "Everyone knows if you assault a police officer you get a stiffer sentence.
Pauline Foulkes,
Usdaw national officer, said: "Reports and speculation in the media about significant job cuts are distressing for Tesco staff and it is appalling they should hear about the future of their jobs in this way.
That's why
Usdaw, the shopworkers' union, is running a Respect for Shopworkers campaign, asking customers to Keep Your Cool at Christmas.
As part of the Freedom From Fear Campaign,
Usdaw organises Respect for Shopworkers Week, which runs until November 18.
The findings come as
Usdaw launches a Time for Better Pay campaign at the TUC conference in Manchester today.
David Gill, national officer for
Usdaw, said: "This salami-slicing approach to reorganising the business is extremely distressing for the staff.
An
Usdaw spokesman said the union "welcomed the debate" generated by the petition started last month by Ian Lapworth, a baker and former DJ from Kettering.
But
Usdaw insisted that the Aintree and Bolton sites could easily have dealt with the move to online shopping at little or no extra cost, which the company rejected.
Batley and Spen MP, Jo Cox, visited a Tesco store in Cleckheaton to support
Usdaw members and hear about some of their experiences.
Erdington MP Mr Dromey was the keynote speaker this week for a fringe meeting at
Usdaw's annual delegate meeting in the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Mr Dromey was the keynote speaker yesterday for a fringe meeting at
Usdaw's Annual Delegate meeting in the Winter Gardens at Blackpool.