Usdaw, representing 360,000 members, urges the next UK government to prioritize shopworker protection.
- This call includes a demand for legislation on shopworker abuse, similar to existing laws in Scotland.
- Key focus areas encompass economic reform, better pay, and security in employment.
- Usdaw highlights the need for action against retail crime to shield community interests.
- The union stresses the importance of reforming business rates and fostering high street revitalization.
Usdaw, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, which represents 360,000 members, is pressing the imminent UK government to enact measures aimed at safeguarding shopworkers. The union’s general secretary, Paddy Lillis, articulated a compelling case for instituting new legal measures across the UK to specifically criminalize the abuse and assault of shopworkers, akin to current statutes in Scotland.
The union’s demands come amid a challenging retail landscape, marked by widespread job losses and the closure of stores that leave lasting scars on high streets and communities. With a robust collective voice, Usdaw advocates for substantive reforms that can lead to the creation of better employment opportunities and secure the industry’s future viability, benefiting not only employees but also customers, local communities, and the broader economy.
Usdaw’s comprehensive wishlist starts with a call for a new economic framework. This includes a fundamental overhaul of business rates to ensure a fair competitive environment between online platforms and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. The union also emphasizes the need for reforming tax laws to prevent avoidance and evasion while advocating for a detailed review of rents and leases to foster a cooperative relationship between retailers and landlords. Additionally, securing adequate funding for local authorities is crucial so they can strategically plan and invest in high streets and community jobs.
Regarding better pay and secure work, Usdaw calls for establishing a genuine living wage that truly reflects the cost of living and abolishing unfair youth rates. This aspect of their proposal ensures a move away from exploitative zero-hours contracts, proposing a right for workers to contracts representing their actual working hours and compensation for short-notice shift changes. Usdaw further emphasizes the link between fair wages, secure employment, productivity improvements, and enhanced customer services. Improved sick pay policies are also advocated to provide financial security from the first day of illness.
In tackling the issue of freedom from fear, Usdaw demands a standalone offense for abusing and assaulting shopworkers be adopted in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, similar to Scottish law. They call for engagement with politicians and law enforcement to elevate retail crime prevention measures, simplify reporting procedures, and classify the theft of goods under £200 as a significant offense. They also propose increased police presence and town center bans on chronic offenders to fortify community safety.
Drapers has reached out to various stakeholders in the fashion retail industry to identify their priorities for the forthcoming government, compiling responses into the Drapers Fashion Retail Manifesto. This document, conveying the consolidated aspirations of designers, brands, retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers, was distributed to political leaders to inform policy directions for the election.
Usdaw’s comprehensive proposals underscore a pivotal moment for shopworker security and industry reform in the UK.
