Speaking from the union’s Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The staff at Austin Reed will be shocked by this announcement after the company changed hands only a week ago. We will be providing the support, advice and representation our members require at this difficult and worrying time.

“The Government has promised me a meeting about the future of retail and how we can work together to help save the high street. I look forward to that happening very soon, because it is a very difficult time for retailers and action is required on tackling crippling overheads, such as rates and rents; putting more money in customers pockets by reducing VAT, and raising the skills and incomes of shopworkers, as called for the British Retail Consortium in their report on the future of the industry.

“Retail is an important employment sector and a major contributor to the British economy, it deserves more attention and support from the Government.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 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.

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion