Usdaw members voted by almost 90% to take industrial action after BCM Fareva proposed slashing members’ terms and conditions, including sick pay and redundancy payment provisions, while pre-emptively threatening to ‘fire and rehire’ staff if agreement cannot be reached on the proposed changes.

Daniel Adams - Usdaw National Officer says: “The proposal to drastically cut sick pay and other terms and conditions for these key workers, who have given their all through the coronavirus pandemic, is totally unacceptable. The company is now in the process of threatening to ‘fire and rehire’ staff unless they accept these dramatic cuts. Our members have been left with little choice other than industrial action.

“Nearly 90% of Usdaw members voted to strike in the industrial action ballot, which shows the strength of feeling on the company’s proposals and their confrontational approach.  Usdaw has consistently reiterated its willingness to talk should the threat of dismissal be removed, including under the auspices of ACAS if necessary.  Sadly this has been consistently rejected by the company.  However, the offer remains and the company could still prevent industrial action if they withdraw their ‘fire and rehire’ threat.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with 400,000 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