John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Carolyn Harris is an active member of the Usdaw group of MPs, a hard working Parliamentary campaigner for all working people and would be an excellent first Deputy Leader of Labour in Wales. The decision of our Executive Council reflects that.

“Carolyn is at the forefront of the state pension inequality campaign in Parliament, working with Usdaw to tackle the unjust increase in the state pension age that discriminates against women workers born in the 1950s.

“Carolyn has also been a strong supporter of Usdaw’s key campaigns in her constituency and in Parliament, including Freedom From Fear which seeks to prevent violence threats and abuse against shopworkers.

“Carolyn is successfully campaigning against charges for children’s and young people’s funerals. This resulted in the Welsh Labour Government establishing a children’s funeral fund and providers, such ​as the Co-op, adopting a free funeral policy for under-18s. Carolyn’s campaign continues for the UK Government do their bit, which is meeting resistance from the Conservatives. It’s a great campaign demonstrating how Welsh Labour is one team, with Carolyn leading from the front for working families.

“Welsh Labour’s leadership is clearly well connected to the National Assembly, but it is crucial there are strong links between the party in Wales and the UK Parliament. Workers’ rights, pay and standards of living continue to be at risk under a Conservative Government that is taking us out of the EU. Carolyn, as a serving MP, provides that link and a strong voice for Wales in the House of Commons.”

Individual members of Usdaw in Wales who pay the political levy are entitled to vote in the deputy leadership election.

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over the 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