Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We welcome that our members are included in the Covid-19 testing programme. They have been on the frontline of retail, working in very difficult circumstances, facing abuse from customers and of course concerned they may contract Covid-19.

“Usdaw expects employers to fully facilitate staff through the testing process and to support those who are ill, self-isolating or shielding on full pay. Regardless of any test results, Usdaw continues to advise members to observe the necessary hygiene and social distancing measures we have agreed with employers to protect staff.”

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 @UsdawUnion