Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We share the TUC’s view that the consequences of a ‘no deal’ Brexit would be a catastrophic for working people. The TUC has today made it clear that any deal must meet their tests and the people must have their say on any deal with an option to remain.

“Usdaw has consistently said we would oppose any Brexit deal that fails to protect workers’ rights, ensures frictionless trade and maintains the Good Friday Agreement by avoiding a hard border in Ireland.

“The first priority for Parliament is to ensure that we don’t leave the European Union without a deal, with all the risks that involves. So Labour was right to put the security of workers and the prosperity of the country first, ahead of a general election.

“We now have a Government without a majority, riven by internal party divisions and consumed by Brexit. There has to be a general election soon, which will be decided by Parliament, but it is right to secure the country’s economy and future arrangements with our biggest trading partner first.”

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 410,000 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