Constructive talks with Midlands Co-op following closure announcement

Date: 23 January 2013

Usdaw has held 'constructive' talks with the Midlands Co-operative Society following Monday's (January 21) announcement of the Co-op's proposal to close its Fashion & Home business.

Usdaw's Divisional Officer Gavin Dadley met with senior HR management from the Society yesterday at the company's head office and described the discussions as 'very constructive'.

"The Society has reassured us it is doing everything possible to minimise the number of potential job losses," said Gavin. "The Society also reassured Usdaw that it would do all it could to find alternative employment within its other divisions, and in the local area, for staff affected by the closure programme.

"One-to-one consultations with employees begin next week and Usdaw will seek to ensure all members are given representation at those meetings.

"Clearly these are uncertain times for our members but I want to remind them that both Usdaw and the Midlands Co-op are doing all we can to redeploy as many staff as possible."

Notes to Editors:

1. Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and fastest growing trade union with over 424,000 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.