Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “On International Workers’ Day we celebrate workers’ contribution to society, reflect on the achievements of the labour and trade union movement and look to future challenges and campaigns.
 
“Millions of low-paid workers provide essential services to help ensure the country is fed, healthy and safe, but often do not get the recognition, respect or reward they deserve. There needs to be lasting and fundamental change to the way society views workers.
 
“We need a New Deal for Workers: a significant minimum wage increase, an end to insecure employment, respect for shopworkers and action to ensure that retail jobs are no longer underpaid and undervalued. Going to work should mean a decent standard of living for all workers.
 
“The Government is not offering the change our members need. Labour is pledged to deliver a new deal for workers within 100 days of coming into government. Usdaw will continue to mobilise for a general election because only Labour has the policies and ideas that can put the country back on track.”
 
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
 
Labour’s New Deal for Working People: https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/a-newdealforworking-people
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion