Responding to the equal rights debate at Usdaw’s Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw Deputy General Secretary said: “The principles of equality, inclusion and fairness for all, are at the heart of the trade union movement. This Union has a strong track record of campaigning and negotiating to extend equality for all members. With Usdaw reps and members working together, standing in solidarity with colleagues and communities who face discrimination, harassment and marginalisation - at work and in daily life.
 
“Brunei’s announcement last month that gay sex would be punishable by stoning to death, was been met with a wave of anger from around the world. Things have moved on slightly with the Sultan of Brunei making a further announcement, on 5 May, that the country will not carry out death sentences, but the authorities are still defending their new penal code.
 
“The death penalty, along with many other horrific corporal punishments, will remain on their statute book. It could still be imposed on LGBT+ people, simply because of who they are, and who they love. So while this is a step forward, it is nowhere near enough.
 
“We must stand in solidarity with LGBT+ people in Brunei, and across the globe. Amnesty International is calling on Brunei to fully repeal the death penalty and we support those calls wholeheartedly.
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
  
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