David Gill - Usdaw National Officer says: "Usdaw is the trade union for Debenhams' workers and our members are contacting us to express concern about the uncertainty they now face. So we are seeking an urgent meeting with the company to see the details of their proposals. If the company ultimately presses ahead with store closures we expect to be able to interrogate their business case as part of the statutory consultation. Our priorities are to save jobs and help staff stay employed in the business. We are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they require at this difficult time."

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest trade union with nearly 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: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion