Usdaw also welcomes the response from employment minister Kate Dearden MP, who has committed to meeting with all parties concerned, including Usdaw as the trade union for staff, the owners Gordon Brothers, Poundland management and others.
Usdaw National Officer Bally Auluk says: “Poundland giving notice of the potential of going into administration is a devastating blow for our members and the wider community. Usdaw is providing support and advice to our members during this very difficult time, but they need as much help as possible. So ministerial interventions are welcome.
“Despite our repeated attempts to speak to Gordon Brothers, the owners of Poundland and the decision makers over the future of the business, they continue to ignore us. It is at least something that the owners are talking to the Government, but we still urge them to engage directly with Usdaw.
“It is an absolute disgrace that the owners are threatening to put this company into administration while it is operating at a profit and providing jobs across the country. They appear to want to prioritise short-term financial recovery over the survival of Poundland and its workforce. We have grave concerns about the motives of Gordon Brothers, and we are desperately looking for ways to prevent any plans for asset stripping of the company and to find a unified buyer who will protect the livelihoods of 11,000 workers.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion