Paddy Lillis - Usdaw Deputy General Secretary says: “We are delighted to develop the existing relationship with B&M, from only representing their distribution workers to now providing their shopworkers with an independent trade union voice. The agreement also includes the company’s drivers.

“This is something the staff have been calling for and we welcome the company taking a grown up attitude towards industrial relations, which other retailers could learn from. Our efforts are now turning to recruiting members and establishing an effective reps network within B&M.

“Usdaw has thousands of members working for retailers who currently don’t recognise the union. Staff working in businesses like Marks and Spencer, Aldi and Lidl need the representation and support of an independent trade union. We again urge the management in those and other companies to abandon their long-held resistance to recognising Usdaw as the union to represent their staff, now is the time to follow the lead B&M have provided.

“Good industrial relations are founded on workers knowing that an experienced and knowledgeable trade union is ensuring they are treated with dignity, fairness and respect at work.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 20% in the 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