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Debenhams turmoil continues as new owners announce store closures - Usdaw calls for urgent talks and for the staff to be treated with dignity

Date: 26 April 2019 Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has called for urgent talks to give staff a voice in the future of the company, as the new owners confirm 22 store closures after Christmas, putting 1,200 jobs at risk, as part of a 50 store closure plan.
Dave Gill - Usdaw National Officer says: “This is more devastating news for staff who have been working under the threat of store closures for some time. They have been left on the side-lines as a game of corporate monopoly has been played out in the media. It is devastating news for staff in the store closures announced to today and the threat continues in every other Debenhams store.
 
“We again urge the company to engage with Usdaw the trade union for Debenhams staff. It’s crucial that the staff and their voice should be heard and they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We will continue to provide our members with the support and advice they need at this very difficult time.”
 
“Usdaw’s Save Our Shops campaign urges the Government to take urgent action to address the challenges facing retail. Three million people are employed directly in the retail sector and another 1.5 million jobs rely on the success of shops. In recent years, hundreds and thousands of jobs have been lost in retail, with large and small retailers alike closing their doors. The time for action is long overdue and we need an industrial strategy for 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 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
The Debenham’s stores expected to close in 2020 are: Altrincham, Ashford, Birmingham Fort, Canterbury, Chatham, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Kirkcaldy, Orpington, Slough, Southport, Southsea, Staines, Stockton, Walton, Wandsworth, Welwyn Garden City, Wimbledon, Witney, Wolverhampton.
 
For further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Officer, David Williams on: 0161 249 2469, 07798 696 603 or by e-mail to [email protected]
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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