Retail trade union Usdaw today welcomed Keir Starmer to their Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM). The Labour leader gave a keynote speech in which he thanked Usdaw members for their contribution as key workers and set out plans to tackle retail crime, rejuvenate high streets, deliver a new deal for working people and ensure that a growing economy delivers prosperity for workers.
 
Addressing delegates in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Keir Starmer said: “Nobody in Britain should be in any doubt about the scale of the crime wave on our high streets at the moment. The epidemic levels of shoplifting and the persistent plague of antisocial behaviour. You know, some people tell me this is ‘petty’. “Petty crime” they say, “low-level” crime and perhaps for them it is, but they don’t work in your shop, they don’t walk in your shoes. Don’t see the damage this does to your community.
 
“So today I am putting shoplifters on notice. You might get away with this under a weak Tory government, but if Labour takes power we won’t stand by while crime takes over our streets. We’ll put thirteen thousand extra neighbourhood police on the beat. We’ll scrap the Shoplifter’s Charter, the £200 rule that stops the police investigating theft in your workplace and we will legislate to make sure assaulting and abusing shopworkers is a standalone criminal offence, because you deserve to feel safe at work.”
 
Turning to Labour’s new deal for working people, Keir Starmer continued: “We will embark on the biggest levelling-up of worker rights this country has seen for a generation. That’s what our New Deal for Working People will achieve and I should take this opportunity to thank Paddy for being such a strong advocate for our New Deal, because Paddy understands, as you all do, that it’s about dignity and respect. Everyone deserves that at work.
 
“It should be a given that hard work is fairly rewarded. It should be a given that whoever you are, whatever your circumstances, however you contribute; you are treated with respect and dignity at work. That’s why we will end fire and rehire, make parental leave a day one right, scrap zero hour contracts, strengthen statutory sick pay, boost collective bargaining and make work pay with a real living wage.”
 
Reflecting on the Usdaw battle for justice for Woolworth’s workers, Keir Starmer added: “Where large organisations with numerous stores try to implement redundancy proceedings without collective consultation rights; because, as they argue, the individual stores are below the twenty staff threshold. Labour will stop that. Of course, we hope that your employer never needs such powers, but if they do, if your employer does get in trouble, with a Labour Government you would be protected by new collective redundancy rights. That is a Labour pledge.”
 
On Labour’s growth mission, Keir Starmer pledged: “Working people have been told that fair pay, good work and dignity are barriers to growth, but they’re not and we will prove it. Labour will make work pay, Labour will get Britain building again, Labour will hold out the hand of partnership to business and together we’ll invest in our future. A new direction on growth, from working people, for working people. Higher living standards for every family and community. That is our mission on growth.
 
Focussing on Labour’s plans for high streets, Keir Starmer added: “I haven’t visited a single community that has no ambition for their high street. All they need is a government that matches their ambition with a credible plan that sees the pride and potential we could unlock together. So let’s take back our streets from anti-social behaviour, let’s keep our tax rates competitive, reform and rebalance business rates. Level the playing field between the online tech giants and the high street businesses in your town.”
 
Keir Starmer concluded: “If you want a new deal for working people. If you want tougher action on the crime that blights your workplace. If you want a rejuvenated high street or even just a government you can trust to always put the country first. Then I have to say, there are votes up and down the country this week, including right here in Blackpool, where you can make that choice and show Britain is ready for change with Labour.”
 
Responding, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Keir Starmer has today set out an agenda for our members that will tackle violence, threats and abuse, make the economy work for working people and deliver fairness in the workplace. After 14 years of austerity and a cost of living crisis it is clear that only Labour has the plan for change that our members so desperately need.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion