Leading the delegation, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “With the country in the midst of a cost of living emergency and the Tories offering little to working people, but focussing on tax cuts for the rich and big business, our members are desperate for a Labour Government.
 
“This week we are looking to Keir Starmer and his team to build on their New Deal for Workers and continue to demonstrate that Labour is a Government in waiting. Having lead on the cost of living debate with windfall tax and energy price freeze proposals, Labour has clearly demonstrated only they have answers to the issues our members and all workers face.
 
“One of the critical challenges workers face is new technology and automation. The resultant job insecurity and retraining needs are massive. We are asking Labour to commit to: employers required to consult, including Equality Impact Assessments; significant and long-term investment in skills funding; an independent National Skills Taskforce; a fundamental overhaul of the Apprenticeship Levy; a legal right to paid time off for retraining, and strengthening protection against redundancy.
 
“Abuse should never be part of the job. Yet Usdaw’s research shows that 90% of retail workers are being abused at work and assaults have trebled since 2017. We are calling on Labour to commit to significant investment in: rehabilitation of offenders; community led policing, and a properly funded justice system to deliver for victims.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.

Labour’s New Deal for Workers: www.usdaw.org.uk/LaboursNDW
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion