Dave Gill – Usdaw National Officer says: “We have a longstanding commitment to providing trade union representation for Homebase staff and have maintained relationships with successive owners of the business.

“We are looking forward to working closely with the new owners and I am seeking to meet them as soon as possible. We understand they are looking to invest in the Homebase business, which is welcome after the restructuring and job losses at the end of 2014.

“In the meantime, I am writing to all our members working in Homebase to reassure them that Usdaw will provide support, advice and representation throughout the period of transition.”

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 440,000 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: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion