Usdaw has launched an industrial strategy to tackle the current crisis on our high streets and in the retail sector generally and makes a number of policy suggestions to the Government, centred on three key areas:
- Changing the economic framework on everything from car parking in town centres to business rates, commercial rents and reforming the tax system to create a level playing field been online and ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers.
- Improving productivity by addressing low pay and insecure work.
- Challenging perceptions about retail work and promoting the idea that retail jobs are ‘proper jobs’.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The High Street Report makes a series of recommendations which go some way to tackling the problems on the high street and across the wider retail sector, including the creation of the High Streets Taskforce and recommendations on how to allocate the £675m Future High Street Fund announced as part of this year’s Budget.
“We especially welcome the comments in the report highlighting the importance of ‘face-to-face communication’ and how in light of new technology ‘there is an increasing need to encourage social interaction’. Usdaw believes the community and customer service element is a fundamental part of the in-store and high street retailing experience which is why this is central to our strategy.
“However, what we need now is for all key stakeholders, from national and local government, to retailers, trade unions and staff, to work together to form a coherent strategy that builds on our knowledge and expertise. Usdaw members have direct experience from the shopfloor on the issues that are really affecting the sector and should have a voice and input into policy making and key decisions.
“We urge the Government and expert panel to engage with us, support our strategy and give shopworkers a voice in the future of retail”.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over 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.
Usdaw’s industrial strategy for retail: www.usdaw.org.uk/retailstrategy
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