- Economy and community - changing the economic framework on everything from car parking to rates, rents and reforming the tax system to create a level playing field between online and ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers.
- People and productivity - improving productivity by addressing low pay and insecure work, while giving staff a say in the future of the business they work for and on the introduction of new technology.
- Retail jobs are proper jobs - challenging perceptions about retail work and promoting the idea that retail jobs are ‘proper jobs’. Seeking a greater focus from Government on the retail industry and ensuring shopworkers are valued.
Usdaw’s industrial strategy for retail: www.usdaw.org.uk/retailstrategy
The parliamentary launch event keynote speakers include:
- Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium
- Rt Hon John McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Alison Phillips, Mirror Editor - ‘High Street Fightack’ campaign
- Bill Grimsey, businessman and retail expert
Also expected to attend are representatives from: Poundland UK and Ireland; Resolution Foundation; Co-op Group; RSA; Ocado; TUC; Fabian Society; John Lewis partnership; Institute for the Future of Work; Co-operative Party; Living Wage Foundation; Institute of Employment Rights; Tesco; Morrisons; Association of Convenience Stores, along with Members of Parliament from all parties.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We are joining with the retail employers who are calling for a number of key measures to tackle the crisis on our high streets, including a reform of business rates to help level the playing field between online and ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers.
“This is not about favours from Government, it’s about fairness across all forms of retailing. We need national and local government, unions and employers to work together to effectively tackle the current crisis.
“The retail sector is experiencing turbulent and challenging times. Employing around 3 million people it contributes 11% to the UK economic output; so it is clear that the challenges affecting the retail sector have a huge knock on effect, impacting the UK economy and a significant number of workers.
“We need from the Government a clear and coherent strategy for the retail sector, to address the worries and concerns of retail workers and our members. We hope this launch and Usdaw’s retail strategy will be a catalyst for a combined and concerted effort to tackle the growing retail crisis and save our shops”.”
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.
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion