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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Oct- 2025 -30 OctoberGovernment
Usdaw condemns peers for voting down Employment Rights bill
Usdaw has condemned Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords for voting against various parts of the Employment Rights Bill, sending it back to the House of Commons. Tory and Lib Dem peers voted against measures surrounding zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal from day one, industrial action ballot…
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23 OctoberEconomy
Usdaw welcomes 6.7% rise in real Living Wage
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed a 6.7% increase in the real Living Wage, describing it as “a welcome boost for the lowest-paid workers”. It comes as the Living Wage Foundation announced yesterday (22 October) that the new rates will rise to £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80…
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20 OctoberGovernment
BRC welcomes progress on Crime and Policing Bill
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed progress on the Crime and Policing Bill as it completed its Second Reading in the House of Lords yesterday, and will now go to the Committee Stage. The bill will remove the £200 threshold for ‘low level’ theft which the organisation believes will…
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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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