Speaking at the UNI Global Union’s World Congress in Liverpool,
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary Elect says: “Aldi and Lidl now have more than 12% of the UK’s market share between them. Usdaw is campaigning for recognition with those retailers and we have a growing membership in them.
“We have repeatedly asked them to sit down at the table with us and discuss a way forward, but every single time they have refused. Refused to listen to their staff,
refused to give them a say on their conditions, refused to give them protection at work.
“But Usdaw activists have stood strong, holding action days across the UK; when they have been, quite literally, left out in the cold. Standing outside shops and distribution centres for hours on end, recruiting new members, raising awareness with the public and gaining support in the UK Parliament and European Parliament for our campaign.
“I know this issue is by no means unique to the UK and I applaud the efforts of our sister unions around the world who are fighting to give Aldi and Lidl workers a say. We need to work together, with the support of UNI, to put pressure on Aldi and Lidl.
“We also need to look at other employers. Marks and Spencer, who are a huge name in UK retail, continue to refuse to recognise Usdaw, despite our long-running campaign. They are known as a British brand, but they operate across the globe, so we will be redoubling our efforts to win recognition.
“We must stand together and show all of these employers that an injury to one is an injury to all, no matter where we are in the world. We will not rest, until they listen to their workers’ demands for an independent voice.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with around 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.
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion