USDAW calls for union talks with Marks & Spencer

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jun 23, 2016

USDAW, the British shopworkers' union that is the union for retailer Marks & Spencer's staff, is calling for talks with M&S.

USDAW says it has been contacted by members because M&S recently announced plans to:

* Consolidate Sunday and night shift premiums into the hourly rate of pay for its 70,000 store staff.

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* Close the final salary pension scheme to new contributions from existing members, who will be moved to a different scheme.

* Review the viability of stores, which will report in the Autumn and could lead to closures.

David Gill – Usdaw National Officer says: “We have been contacted by many of our members in Marks and Spencer who are very concerned about the proposed big changes to their pay and pension, along with the threat of Autumn store closures. Particularly as the company are threatening to sack any staff who do not accept the contractual changes.

“Usdaw is the independent trade union for M&S staff and we urge the company to get round the table and engage with us. In the meantime we are asking staff to ensure they raise their concerns with the company’s staff association representatives, the BIG Group, so management is in no doubt of the strength of feeling that members have around the proposals and that they should not proceed with the changes announced.

Marks & Spencer is currently pushing through a plan to turn around its underperforming clothing and homeware business, under new CEO Steve Rowe. The clothing division has seen five years of almost constant sales falls.