Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers | |
 | |
| Predecessor | National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers National Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 January 1947 |
| Headquarters | Voyager Building, 2 Furness Quay, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3XZ |
| Location | |
| Members |  368,563 (2024) [1] |
Key people | Joanne Thomas, General Secretary Jane Jones, President |
| Affiliations | TUC, ICTU, STUC, Labour [2] |
| Website | www |
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is a trade union in the United Kingdom, consisting of over 360,000 members. [3] Usdaw members work in a variety of occupations and industries including: shopworkers, factory and warehouse workers, drivers, call centres, clerical workers, milkround and dairy process, butchers and meat packers, catering, laundries, chemical processing, home shopping and pharmaceutical.
Contents
- History
- Sectors
- Campaigns
- Freedom From Fear
- National Minimum Wage
- Keep Sunday Special
- Equality and inclusion
- Publications
- 2022 annual survey report
- General Secretaries
- Presidents
- Affiliations
- References
- External links
Usdaw represents members individually and through company-wide agreements across retail and distribution, such as with The Co-op Societies, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s. [4] It has a large network of reps who support Usdaw members in their workplaces. [5] It also negotiates with companies at a national level to secure better pay, premiums, allowances, and to ensure health and safety standards are met.
Members can access a range of support and representation on work-related matters, but members also benefit from pensions advice, legal and accident cover, member benefits and discounts for workers of all ages. [6]
Usdaw relies upon a "partnership" model with large employers such as with Tesco, where the management of both the business and the trade union have "privileged access" to their counterparts. This arrangement, coupled with its actions, has been met with criticism, such as where the union seemingly presents itself as being concerned more with maintaining its positive, comfortable position and easy membership supply than that of fair representation of its members. [7] This attitude has earned the union the pejorative backronym of Useless Seven Days A Week amongst workers and trade unionists. [7] [8]
However, many see Usdaw as regularly winning successes for members through its partnership model, such as securing above inflation pay awards. [9] [10] [11] [12] The partnership model does not also stop the Union from seeking to push companies further, whether through Acas or industrial action. [13] It also sees Usdaw and companies join forces to shape laws for the benefit of workers. [14]
Usdaw is also known for championing the sectors it represents and its members. The Union has been instrumental in bringing about a new law that makes it a criminal offence to assault a shopworker in the Crime and Policing Bill. [15] Many MPs have praised the union for its campaigning to highlight the abuse and violence faced by low-paid retail workers – such as through its long-standing Freedom from Fear Campaign - and its role in the shaping the new laws to protect retail workers. [16] This follows similar campaigning by Usdaw in Scotland which has protection for shopworkers. [17]
Usdaw also holds a National Retail Workes Day to shine a light on the vital role shopworkers within communities and the economy. [18] Alongside campaigning, Usdaw delivers accredited reps’ education and a range of events and conferences throughout the year, including its Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool each spring. [19] [20]
It is widely considered to be on the right-wing on the political spectrum, [21] [22] occupying the "politically conservative" section of the Labour Party. [23] [24] Usdaw is also affiliated to the Co-operative Party. [25] In November 2021, the union was criticised at its refusal to negotiate with a Nottingham-based employer who was proposing a 'fire-and-rehire' policy leading to workers having to negotiate for themselves. [26]
In September 2024, Udsaw won a Supreme Court battle against Tesco over so-called "fire and rehire" plans put forward by the supermarket giant. The row erupted in 2021 after Tesco proposed firing staff at some distribution centres and rehiring them on lower pay. [27]
