Around 1,000 delegates, visitors and officials from across the UK will be attending to debate and vote on propositions from lay-member branches as well as statements from Usdaw’s National Executive Council on key issues, including:
- A new framework for organising under the Employment Rights Act.
- Celebrating different minds – neurodiversity in the workplace.
- Health and safety at work, including the Crime and Policing Bill.
- Workers’ wages and conditions of employment.
- Making members’ voices heard in politics.
- Supporting working parents and carers.
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “Our Annual Delegate Meeting is effectively the union’s parliament and provides members with the opportunity to raise their issues of concern and make our policy. We have a packed agenda and it is clear that members are keen to have an influence on the Government with Labour in power and listening to the voices of working people.
“Labour’s Employment Rights Act is historic legislation that will transform workers’ lives. We are calling for the Government to ensure the Plan to Make Work Pay is delivered in full, as key details on rights and security at work are implemented over the next 18 months. The Government also continues to require the Low Pay Commission to take the cost of living into account when setting rates and make progress on eliminating rip-off youth rates.
“For too long, retail workers have suffered violence, threats and abuse; the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill will tackle the retail crime epidemic, along with bringing additional uniformed police. These commitments all build on Usdaw’s campaigning priorities, agreed at previous Annual Delegate Meetings.
“Usdaw will continue fighting to deliver the policies, pledges and commitments that will make our members’ lives better. It is only through a Labour Government that this change will be delivered, and Usdaw will continue to press Ministers to deliver the manifesto in full.
“Our member-led, evidence-based campaigns reflect the issues and concerns members have at work, home and in their communities. This week’s conference plays a key role in setting our policy and the future direction of the union’s campaigning, organising and negotiating agendas.”
Media representatives wishing to attend the conference should contact Usdaw’s Media Office to arrange accreditation.
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