Jack Faulds – Usdaw Area Organiser says: “Our members are shocked and devastated by this news, which has come out of the blue. Staff are being briefed today and our reps are supporting them at this difficult time. Our priority is to keep members in work, primarily by seeking redeployment opportunities.

“This is yet another blow for Dundee. The retail sector as whole is in crisis and we need an urgent strategy for an industry that employs over 250,000 workers across Scotland, with many more in distribution and manufacturing reliant on thriving high streets in our towns and cities.

“Usdaw’s ‘Save our Shops’ campaign sets out key policies to turnaround the retail sector and we urge the Government actively engage with us and for shoppers to show their support by signing our national petition.”

‘Save our Shops’ petition: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/save-our-shops

Usdaw’s industrial strategy for retail: www.usdaw.org.uk/retailstrategy
 
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 410,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. 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