USDAW
Stay informed on the latest news, developments, and policy updates involving the Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), the UK’s largest retail trade union. This section offers in-depth reporting and expert editorial coverage on USDAW’s industrial actions, wage negotiations, workplace safety campaigns, and employment rights advocacy. Whether you’re navigating collective bargaining processes, HR policy alignment, or strategic labour planning, our USDAW coverage ensures you understand the implications of union activity across the retail landscape.
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Sep- 2025 -16 SeptemberGovernment
Usdaw calls on peers to end opposition to Employment Rights Bill
Retail union Usdaw has urged Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers to drop their opposition to the Employment Rights Bill after the government rejected all amendments proposed in the House of Lords. It said the Employment Rights Bill would enact “major” changes to UK employment law. Key proposals include banning exploitative…
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3 SeptemberSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s to trial facial recognition tech in two UK stores
Sainsbury’s will reportedly begin an eight-week trial of facial recognition technology in two stores this week, with the possibility of expanding the scheme nationwide, according to The Standard. The technology, provided by Facewatch, will be introduced at the Sydenham superstore in London and the Bath Oldfield Sainsbury’s Local. It will…
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Jul- 2025 -4 JulySupermarkets
Asda unveils enhanced family leave benefits for staff
Asda has announced improvements to its family leave benefits for its staff around caregiving, parenthood and family loss. As part of the changes Asda is increasing company maternity and adoption leave pay for hourly staff, from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. It is also doubling the duration of paternity from…
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Jun- 2025 -12 JuneEconomy
Retailers welcome £2bn police boost but urge for more action
Retail trade bodies have welcomed the £2bn funding boost for police forces in England and Wales, but cautioned that the investment alone will not be enough to tackle rising levels of high street crime. It comes as Rachel Reeves announced in yesterday’s Spending Review (11 June) that the police’s spending…
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Mar- 2025 -18 MarchSupermarkets
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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Aug- 2024 -12 AugustNews
Today’s news in brief-12/8/24
Asda’s chair, Lord Rose, expressed embarrassment over the supermarket’s recent performance, citing a 5.3% drop in like-for-like sales and a market share decline from 14.8% to 12.7%. He suggested it might be time for co-owner Mohsin Issa to reduce involvement. Asda has initiated a £50m store upgrade and £30m investment…
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12 AugustSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s urges gov to reform business rates
Sainsbury’s and USDAW have together called on the new government to deliver on its promise to reform business rates.The call follows research which “demonstrates that failure to act could lead to 17,300 retail closures over the next ten years”. The research, carried out by Development Economics, warned that an increase…
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Mar- 2024 -7 MarchSupermarkets
Co-op announces Real Living Wage staff pay rise
Co-op has announced a pay increase to at least £12 per hour for store colleagues, in line with the Real Living Wage. The move represents the retailer’s biggest ever investment into pay with an increase of over 20% in the last two years for staff. From 1 April, the rate…
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6 MarchNews
Today’s news in brief-6/3/24
Currys shareholder JO Hambro Capital Management urged the company to hold out for a £1bn offer amid takeover talks. Despite rejecting a bid from Elliot valued at 67p per share, Currys faces pressure to consider higher offers, with JOHCM deeming an offer between 80p and 100p per share as “acceptable”.…
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6 MarchSupermarkets
Tesco raises pay by 9.1% amid ‘record’ £300m investment
Tesco has increased base pay for staff by 9.1%, amid a “record” investment of more than £300m in hourly pay.The supermarket reached an agreement with trade union USDAW that will see the hourly pay rate increase from £11.02 to £12.02. The new rate will come into effect from April 2024. …
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