Usdaw calls action to tackle retail crisis and support workers facing automation

A leading retail workers’ union is calling for action to promote a retail recovery plan, along with tackling the issues workers face as their jobs are impacted by new technology and automation.

Usdaw’s delegation of reps and officials will be attending the 2023 Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) annual conference in Dundee, starting today (17), wherein they will be calling for immediate measures which would address the most urgent priorities facing the sector and its workforce, a further long-term strategy that deals with the fundamental and structural challenges within the sector, in particular non-domestic rates which already stand at a 23 year high, a coordinated approach to protect and create new jobs within the sector and a new deal for workers as a key method of eradicating in-work poverty and tackling job insecurity.

Tracy Gilbert – Usdaw Regional Officer for Scotland says: “We are deeply concerned that Scotland’s retail sector is facing its biggest crisis in decades. Low economic growth and high energy costs, combined with deep seated structural issues such as the non-domestic rates system, are creating significant economic pressures for retailers.

“These increased economic challenges are likely to damage the job security of retail workers and bring about increased pressure for cuts to terms and conditions. Many retail workers, who are already low paid, are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis with incomes being severely eroded by inflation.

“Usdaw has been closely involved in the Scottish Government’s industry leadership group for retail and I chair the working group that is developing a fair work agreement for retail. We now need to ensure swift and meaningful action from Government to help support the sector.”

Usdaw is calling for significant and long-term investment in skills funding, removal of the current single site restrictions, a review of the Retail Modern Apprenticeship to ensure a more agile and adult friendly system, positive action to tackle under-representation, and development of robust sectoral plans to support skills development across the whole of Scotland.

The union is also demanding to deliver a legal right to paid time off for retraining to encourage not just specialised skills such as data science, but greater overall digital literacy as well as broader skills development across the workforce and a requirement under UK legislation for employers to consult on new technology, including the use of Equality Impact Assessments which employers must act upon.