Addressing the 600 plus delegates at the virtual conference, Frances O’Grady praised the work of the union and Usdaw’s workplace reps during the pandemic. Looking after members’ safety, fighting ‘fire and rehire’,negotiating £10 per hour at Morrisons, yet again stopping extended Sunday trading and tackling abuse of shopworkers with the Freedom from Fear campaign.

In her remarks, Frances O’Grady - TUC General Secretary said: “This pandemic has taken a terrible toll, not least on key workers who have kept the country going; being in work right through the pandemic and putting their own health on the line to look after everybody else.

“I am clear in my mind that without the trade union movement working together there would have been no furlough scheme. I know it’s not perfect, but over ten million livelihoods were saved. We also worked together on health and safety, right across industries. If it wasn’t for the trade union movement we would have not got the standards we pushed for in Government guidelines. On equality too, whatever our race, religion or background everyone deserves dignity and fair reward at work.

“We know there is much more to do. The devastation on the high street, the job losses and the redundancies are stacking up. Mass unemployment is enemy number one, our goal has to be full employment.

“It’s no good the Government telling workers to self-isolate when Statutory Sick Pay is at one of the worst rates in Europe. Who can afford to live on £96 per week? We want to see sick pay improved by raising it to at least the real living wage and making sure all workers are entitled; so that you are not forced to choose between doing the right thing for public health and feeding your family.

“When we do get through this crisis it can’t be the case of going back to business as usual. There’s got to be change. So we need a new deal for working people. One that recognises that everybody is entitled to a decent job, that means you can afford to look after your family, that’s rewarded fairly, that gives you time off to spend with your loved ones and that gives you a voice at work. The only independent voice at work, the best force for justice and good for society is trade union organisation. Stick together, stay strong and solidarity.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 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.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion