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Usdaw supports a Labour Unions joint statement on Black Lives Matter

Date: 04 June 2020 Retail trade union Usdaw has added their support to the joint statement by the unions affiliated to the Labour Party, honouring the life of George Floyd, speaking out against racist violence and committing to redouble the efforts to fight racism.
Individuals can also support the Black Lives Matter joint statement from Labour Unions at: https://labourunions.org.uk/blacklivesmatter/

Labour Unions joint statement: We send our solidarity to all those fighting racism across the world

Racism affects the hopes, lives and dreams of black trade union members here in the UK as well as in the US. Racism divides working people. At this painful time we stand together in memory of George Floyd.

As trade unionists we work every single day to fight for dignity and justice for working people and their families. Our cause is not confined to our workplaces, communities or even our country, and when events like the shocking murder of George Floyd occur, we have to speak out. Black Lives Matter.

Racism is a trade union issue. Its effects are felt by working people inside and outside the workplace; whether that is access to decent jobs and equal pay or the disproportionate deaths that BAME communities have suffered from Coronavirus.

To honour the memory of George Floyd – and so many others who suffer racist violence – we commit to redouble our efforts to fight racism here in the UK.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Like so many others, I am appalled at the injustices and entrenched inequality that black people across the world continue to face. We all have a responsibility to call out discrimination, inside and outside of the workplace. We must redouble our efforts to fight racism, together, in memory of George Floyd.

“Usdaw’s own ‘No Room for Racism’ campaign involves the union’s reps running workplace campaigns all year round; doing what our reps do best, standing up for workers at the sharp end, bringing people together. They engage members, non-members and employers with our anti-racist message, ‘not in my name, not in my workplace’.

“Usdaw continues to provide support for members who experience racially motivated violence, threats and abuse and we remain committed to organising and promoting anti-racist campaigns in our workplaces and wider society.”

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.
 
Labour Unions is the 12 trade unions that are part of the Labour Party (ASLEF, BFAWU, Community, CWU, FBU, GMB, MU, NUM, TSSA, Unison, Unite and Usdaw). It brings the collective voices of 4 million people to the heart of the Party and campaigns for a Labour Government that will transform the lives of working people for the better https://labourunions.org.uk/
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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