Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We have long called for the Government to work with Usdaw and retailers to develop an industrial strategy and recovery plan for retail. The scale of the challenge the industry faces is huge and store closures are scarring our high streets and communities. There are substantial issues that need to be addressed like rents, rates and taxation.
 
“The current business rates system is not fit for purpose, as it places bricks and mortar retailers at a significant disadvantage to online retail. In effect this amounts to nothing more than an unfair tax on shops and action has to be taken to level the playing field. Clearly the cost of living crisis could be a further nail in the high street coffin and we need urgent Government action.
 
“We were deeply disappointed that the Government rejected an online sales tax, which was also supported by many major retailers and could have been used to fund a reduction in business rates. The burden of business rates on stores is unfair and a serious threat to jobs. A reduction in business rates would support retailers to invest in our high streets and in the workforce, having a positive impact on communities and the wider economy.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion