Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said: “After years of pay freezes the pay rise for public sector workers was long-overdue and it is only right the Government has recognised their enormous contribution during a time of national crisis.
“At the start of the pandemic, after lobbying from Usdaw, the Government recognised that retail workers were ‘key workers’ as they were instrumental in keeping the food supply chain going. Their contribution cannot fade into the background when the national crisis passes.
“It is now time for the Government to recognise that these workers have been undervalued for too long. We need a new deal for the workers: a minimum wage of at least £10 per hour, an end to insecure employment, respect for shopworkers and action to ensure that retail jobs are no longer underpaid and undervalued.”
Usdaw’s New Deal for Workers
- £10 minimum wage for all workers, ending rip-off youth rates and providing a living wage.
- Minimum contract of 16 hours per week, for everyone who wants it, that reflects normal hours worked and a ban on zero-hour contracts.
- Better sick pay for all workers, from day one, at average earnings.
- Protection at work – respect for shopworkers, abuse is not a part of the job.
- A proper social security system, Universal Credit does not provide the necessary safety net.
- Job security, with day one employment rights for unfair dismissal and redundancy.
- Fair treatment and equality for all workers, including equal pay.
- A voice at work, stop rogue employers from refusing to engage with trade unions.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 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
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