Trade Union

What does the new Employment Rights Bill mean for retailers?

The Employment Rights Bill, slated for major implementation in autumn 2026, is being hailed by the government as a bold step forward for workers’ rights. But for the retail sector – a cornerstone of the UK economy that employs over three million people – the swift nature of the proposed…

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Today’s news in brief-28/3/25

WHSmith has agreed to sell its high street retail arm to Modella Capital in a £76m deal, marking a significant shift for the historic brand. The acquisition includes around 480 stores across the UK, which will be rebranded as TGJones. WHSmith will retain its travel and international operations, including stores…

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Asda unveils £80m investment into retail pay

Asda has announced an £80m investment in retail pay to increase hourly rates for store-based colleagues to £12.60 from October. Circa 115,000 Asda Retail and Asda Express colleagues will receive an above inflation increase of 4.7% in three phases, taking rates from £12.04 to £12.60 per hour. Hourly rates for…

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Tesco announces £180m investment in staff pay

Tesco has reached an agreement with trade union USDAW that will increase the hourly pay rate for staff in stores, from £12.02 to £12.45 from 30 March 2025, and again to £12.64 from the end of August. This two-stage rate increase represents an above-inflation increase of 5.2% builds on the…

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Today’s news in brief-12/9/24

John Lewis Partnership reported a significant improvement in financial performance, narrowing pre-tax losses to £30m from £59m. Total revenue rose 2% to £5.2 billion, with Waitrose seeing a 5% sales increase. Investment in transformation, including new stores and digital initiatives, remains robust. PwC’s latest data reveals a rise in shop…

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Tesco loses ‘fire and rehire’ case at Supreme Court

Tesco has been blocked from its ability to dismiss staff at certain distribution centres and rehire them on lower pay, the Supreme Court has ruled. In a judgement passed today (12 September), five Supreme Court justices ruled on the motion unanimously. In 2021, trade union Usdaw took legal action over the…

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Tesco faces strike ballot as warehouse workers reject pay offer

Usdaw has launched a consultation ballot, asking Tesco workers at eight sites if they are ready to take a dispute over pay to industrial action. According to the trade union, members at all eight sites “overwhelmingly rejected” Tesco’s pay offer of between 2% plus £500 and 4.4%, depending on contract.…

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New Look partners with ITF to protect supply chain workers

New Look has partnered with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to ensure that transport workers’ human and labour rights are protected in the fashion retailer’s supply chain.  Under a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), New Look will conduct human rights due diligence (HRDD) in its transport supply chain in…

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NI retail staff and employers call for shop worker protection 

Usdaw and employers’ organisation Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) have jointly called for urgent action to protect retail workers from violence and abuse, amid a recent “epidemic” in retail crime. The call comes as recently recorded crime statistics from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) show that shoplifting had more…

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Over 3,000 Amazon staff to vote over union recognition

Workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse are set to vote in a “historic” trade union recognition ballot which will force Amazon to recognise a union for the first time in the UK. More than 3,000 workers will take part in the ballot – if a majority of them vote yes, Amazon…

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