First 100 days: Labour has begun to deliver the change our members desperately need says Usdaw

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “After 14 years of Conservative rule, the contrast of having a Labour Government is stark. Gone are the days of a Tory Government unwilling to listen to our members’ concerns, but focussed on attacking workers’ rights and their trade unions. Now we have a Labour Government that cares about making work pay, with secure jobs, as a key part of delivering their growth mission.

“In the first 100 days of a Labour Government, they have changed the remit of the Low Pay Commission to create a real living wage and end rip-off youth rates, published the Employment Rights Bill to deliver a new deal for workers and announced a Crime and Policing Bill to tackle the epidemic of retail crime and assaults on shop workers. The delivery of these manifesto commitments represents significant changes that will make a real difference to our members.

“We now look forward to the first Labour Budget in 15 years. Usdaw has called for help to save our shops with a plan for the future of retail, support for workers as they recover from the cost of living crisis, making childcare more accessible for low-paid workers and reforming the social security system, including Universal Credit.

“The change we voted for has already begun, after years of Tory stagnation, and it is clear there is much more to come. There is light at the end of the tunnel - we know it will be a tough journey, we will continue our dialogue with Ministers and we are confident Labour will deliver on members’ priorities.”