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TUC Black Workers Conference 2025: Usdaw calls for improved workplace rights and protections

Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of members and reps attending the Trades Union Congress (TUC) annual conference of Black workers in London, 11 to 13 April. Usdaw is welcoming the Government’s commitment to strengthening workplace rights and seeking to ensure they make a real difference to Black workers’ lives.

10 April 2025

0 min read

Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says: “Labour has introduced the Employment Rights Bill that will help give workers security, respect and a decent income on which to live. Black workers stand to gain disproportionately from this historic legislation, given their over-representation in insecure jobs characterised by low pay, short and zero-hours contracts, high levels of discrimination and harassment and low levels of union organisation. It is crucial that as well as engaging and consulting with unions, the Government actively engages with Black workers and Black communities directly to ensure we get the change we need.”

Usdaw is calling on the TUC to:

  • Continue to seek and share the distinct concerns and experiences of Black workers with the Government to ensure the reforms deliver for them.
  • Encourage the Government to engage directly with Black workers and Black communities.
  • Develop a range of training materials and learning resources for shop stewards explaining the new employment rights and their new responsibilities.

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

For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion

Summary

Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of members and reps attending the Trades Union Congress (TUC) annual conference of Black workers in London, 11 to 13 April. Usdaw is welcoming the Government’s commitment to strengthening workplace rights and seeking to ensure they make a real difference to Black workers’ lives.