Paddy Lillis Usdaw general secretary says: “The retail sector is the largest private sector employer in Wales, providing 139,000 jobs. We are deeply concerned about the challenges facing retail and high streets in Wales and that last year several major national retailers permanently closed stores and cut jobs. There is a long-running crisis in retail that fundamentally threatens the future of the industry.
“We recognise the actions already taken by the Welsh Government to help the sector, including last year’s launch of the Retail Action Plan, and the more recent decision to cap the business rates multiplier. While this support is welcome, figures from the Welsh Retail Consortium show that over one in six shops in Wales are empty, with Wales reporting the second highest number of vacant shops in the UK.
“There needs to be a rebalancing of business taxation, to level the playing field between high street and online retailers, along with a review of rents and leases. Local authorities must have the funding to improve town centres and our high streets. Investment in shopworkers’ pay and conditions, as well as skills training to meet the new technology challenges is necessary to ensure retail jobs are better jobs.”
Usdaw is calling on Wales TUC to campaign for:
- Sustained investment in skills for retail workers to help meet the challenges of new technology and automation, including lobbying Westminster for fundamental reform of the Apprenticeship Levy.
- A comprehensive review of rents and lease arrangements to ensure the right measures are in place to support a collaborative relationship between landlords and retailers.
- Urgent Government action to help address the challenges facing the sector, including fundamental reform of business rates to level the playing field between online and bricks and mortar retailers.
- Consistent and sustainable funding for local authorities so they can invest in their local economy, transport networks and high streets.
- A new deal for workers so that retail jobs are treated as proper jobs.
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 trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades
www.usdaw.org.uk
Usdaw ‘Save our Shops’ campaign: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Save-Our-Shops-(1)
Usdaw’s plan for the future of retail work - ensuring retail jobs are better jobs: www.usdaw.org.uk/RetailPlan2023
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion