John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw is the campaigning union, improving workers’ lives and delivering for our members. Usdaw’s reps and activists do a great job promoting fairness at work, lifelong learning and health and safety in their workplaces.
 
“Despite government attacks on unions, we continue to recruit workers, grow stronger and focus relentlessly on serving members. We are reaching out to workers in unorganised workplaces, including Marks and Spencer, Lidl and Aldi. It is shocking that those companies refuse to recognise a union and give their staff a say in their working lives.
 
“Usdaw is the independent trade union for M&S, Lidl and Aldi workers and we call on those companies to recognise that. If they are so confident they treat their staff fairly, they have nothing to fear from them being represented by Usdaw. Trade unions are problem solvers, not trouble makers.
 
“Throughout ‘♥UNIONS’ week, Usdaw along with the TUC is celebrating the positive contribution trade union members make to the UK economy.”
 
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 440,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% 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.
 
‘♥UNIONS’ week 8-14 Feb 2017 highlights the positive contribution that trade unions make in workplaces and across wider society http://heartunions.org/
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion