Yesterday Usdaw and the Scottish Retail Consortium made a joint plea to John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2020/Mar/SRC-and-Usdaw-jointly-call-on-the-Scottish-Governm

Following the Scottish Government announcement of their key worker scheme, Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer has again written to the Minister saying: “I note that in the guidance published by the Scottish Government this afternoon, Category 2 workers include ‘those supporting our Critical National Infrastructure’.

“Food, including retail, supply and production is defined elsewhere by the Scottish Government as part of Critical National Infrastructure and therefore we are seeking urgent confirmation that these workers should be included in Category 2 of the key worker definition. We would also expect our members working the pharmaceutical supply chain to be included in this category.

“Could you provide clarity on this for our members and for the local authorities at the earliest opportunity, so that the supply of food and medicine in Scotland is not disrupted.”

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