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Usdaw's President and General Secretary formally open the union's 74th Annual Delegate Meeting #Usdaw21

Date: 25 April 2021 Retail trade union Usdaw has today opened their 74th annual conference with addresses from the President and General Secretary. For the first time, the Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) is taking place online because of the pandemic, with over 600 delegates, visitors and officials attending virtually.
Both the President and General Secretary paid heartfelt tributes to the work of reps and members who have been on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis and reflected on a terrible twelve months of the pandemic. During her address to ADM, Amy Murphy – Usdaw President said: “Even when we can't be together in person, we are joining together from right across the UK to reflect on the extraordinary year we've had. To look ahead at the challenges still to come and to build the strength and solidarity we need to meet those challenges.

“I want to start with a huge thank you to all of our members, who have been through so much this year, many of whom have lost loved ones, friends and colleagues. Our members have been furloughed or shielding, others have had hours cut or lost their jobs altogether. Despite all this our members have stepped up to the plate in their new status as ‘key workers’ and kept the nation fed throughout this pandemic.

“It has been really tough on our members, many of whom have turned to their union reps for support, advice and guidance, but it has been equally as tough on our reps. I especially want to thank all of our reps for the amazing job you do on behalf of your members, day in, day out. You are all truly amazing, thank you. Being a Union rep is never easy, even at the best of times.”

Looking to the future, in his address to ADM, Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary said: “Every one of our members has made real sacrifices to keep themselves and others safe and every one of our members deserves to be heard. Usdaw reps have worked tirelessly to make each and every one of those voices heard. So, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to you all.

“This crisis isn't over. We know there are going to be more challenges to come, but the vaccination programme gives us hope. Hope that we will be able to live our lives safely, and free of restrictions, once again. And the collective strength of our Union gives us hope. Hope for a better future and a new deal for workers.

“But we need more than hope. We need a real commitment to action. To build an even stronger Union. To fight for the new deal that all workers deserve: A minimum wage of at least £10 per hour; guaranteed hours for a decent standard of living; better sick pay, and protection from abuse at work. We can only achieve this by working together.”

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

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The official website of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers