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Keir Starmer’s new year message of hope so that ‘Britain can get its future back’ is welcomed by Usdaw

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed today’s keynote speech by Keir Starmer, as he sets out his ambitions for a new Britain.

04 January 2024

0 min read

In a wide-ranging new year speech the Labour leader set out his national missions for government and identified that we have for too long had ‘an economy that doesn’t work for working people, even when it grows, let alone when it stagnates like now’.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Only Labour will deliver stronger workers’ rights. Far too many are stuck on insecure contracts, struggling to make ends meet and desperate to be safe in the knowledge that they can provide for themselves and their families. Good and secure jobs are a key ambition for Usdaw and Labour’s new deal for working people will help deliver that.

“Keir Starmer has today set out an agenda of ambitions for the country that absolutely chimes with the concerns and hopes of our members and all working people. Labour’s five national missions address the real issues of working people. Higher growth and better jobs, safer streets with extra police, cheaper energy bills through clean power, break down barriers with more opportunities for children and our NHS back on its feet.

“He is right to address voters’ concerns about integrity in politics. Usdaw has always been clear that the only way to change Britain is by voting. Politics affects all lives and we continue to encourage our members to vote to secure the change the country desperately needs. We urge all of our members to make sure that they are registered to vote now, so that they have a say on the decisions that affect them. Today Keir continues to demonstrate that not all politicians are the same and his message of hope for the new year is very welcome.”

Labour in government will deliver a new deal for workers that includes:

  • Making work pay with a genuine living wage that people can actually live on.
  • Banning zero-hours contracts.
  • Ending fire and rehire.
  • Giving workers basic rights from day one.
  • Going further and faster in closing the gender pay gap.
  • Making work more family friendly.
  • Tackling sexual harassment.
  • Ensuring that unions can stand up for their members.
  • Boosting collective bargaining, to improve workers’ pay, terms and conditions.

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 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 www.usdaw.org.uk

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion