Usdaw national officer Bally Auluk said: “I have met with two of the board directors brought in by Gordon Brothers to independently review the bids submitted to buy the business and they are in favour of selling the company as a whole business. However, Gordon Brothers has decided not to accept a solvent offer from Martin Property Group, which increases the probability that a business that is on course to turn a profit could fall into administration.
“Despite our repeated attempts to speak to the company, they continue to ignore us. Therefore, we can only conclude that they are determined to let the company fall into administration and make 11,000 people redundant.
“This is an incredibly worrying time for our members, and the union will continue to fight for their jobs and provide them with the help and support they need during this uncertain time.”
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