Earlier in the week, it was reported that three board members had quit due to disagreements with Poundland’s majority owner, Gordon Brothers. Sources told Sky News that the dispute centred around the shareholders’ decision not to accept a solvent offer for the company from Martin Property Group, which increased the probability that the business could fall into administration. Following this news, ministers sought to establish if Poundland’s owners were about to force the retailer into an administration that the union believes to be unnecessary given the positive turnaround in company performance thanks to the hard-working efforts of Usdaw members.
Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said: “I am calling on the Government to do everything it can to save 11,000 jobs, which are mainly done by women and part-time workers.
“Over the past five years, around 250,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector. Job security is a key priority for a successful economy; therefore, I urge the Government to grant the retail sector the same priority and strategic support it provides to other vital industries.”
National Officer Bally Auluk said: “The owners’ failure to accept a solvent offer leads us to conclude they want to let the company fall into administration and make 11,000 people redundant in the run up to Christmas. I urge the Government to take robust action and save thousands of retail jobs.”
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