Paddy Lillis - Usdaw Deputy General Secretary says: “Staff in all M&S stores will today be extremely concerned about what the future holds, as the company sets out a store reorganisation without saying where the axe will fall by detailing which stores are set to close.

“Usdaw has thousands of members working for Marks and Spencer and the staff now need, more than ever, the representation and support of an independent trade union. We again urge M&S management to abandon their long-held resistance to recognising Usdaw as the union to represent its staff.

“At this time of great uncertainty, staff need to be assured that an experienced and knowledgeable trade union is interrogating the company’s business case for this store reorganisation. Given the opportunity Usdaw would ensure that all avenues to save jobs are explored and staff are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

“We are providing our members with the support and representation they require through this difficult time.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 435,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 10% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion