The proposition supported by conference accepts the decision of the British people to leave the European Union, but is concerned about the Tories’ management of it, in particular the safeguarding of workers’ rights. Delegates called for trade union representatives to be part of the Brexit negotiations.
 
Speaking to delegates in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary said: “The European Union has played a key role in the workplace. If you think back to many of the workplace rights that have been introduced over the last 30 years - part-time workers' protections; equal pay for work of equal value, or protection from discrimination - it is the EU that has stopped the Conservatives from removing these rights.
 
“Now, irrespective of whether you believe that we should be in the EU or not, we all need to get behind a campaign that defends these important protections.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union with nearly 430,000 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.

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