The retail industry is facing one of the most challenging periods in history, with a significant loss of jobs and store closures. Since 2018, nearly three-quarters of a million retail jobs have disappeared, and over 75,000 stores have closed as online retail has grown. The pandemic has only accelerated this trend, leading to an additional loss of 30,000 retail jobs and over 2,000 store closures this year alone.
Recognizing the need for change, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) asserts that retail staff deserves a fairer deal for the sector to thrive. It is crucial to transform retail jobs into better jobs, and Usdaw proposes a plan for the future of retail work. This plan calls for:
1. A new economic framework to support retail growth and encourage investment in high-quality retail jobs by equalizing business taxation for online and in-store retailers. Furthermore, it suggests providing funding for local authorities to support their high streets.
2. Better pay and secure work, including a minimum wage of at least £12 per hour as a step towards £15. Improved Statutory Sick Pay and the protection of workers’ rights legislation are also integral to ensure retail jobs are treated as proper jobs.
3. Retraining and upskilling programs to adapt to new technology and automation, as well as the transition to net zero. This would involve reinstating the Union Learning Fund, granting a legal right to paid time off for retraining, and reforming the Apprenticeship Levy.
4. Fair treatment and equality for all retail workers. Usdaw emphasizes the need for robust action from both employers and the government to create a respectful and inclusive work environment where every worker can thrive.
5. Stronger protections for retail workers. Usdaw aims to bolster its advocacy for retail workers by advocating for strengthened workplace rights and protections against redundancy.
Usdaw’s plan for the future of retail work can be found in their comprehensive report, which can be downloaded from their website at www.usdaw.org.uk/RetailPlan2023.
Paddy Lillis, the General Secretary of Usdaw, stresses the significance of making retail jobs better jobs for workers to prosper, rather than just survive. He calls for the government to acknowledge the vital role that the retail sector and its workers play in both the economy and society.
Lillis points out that retail often provides young workers with their first experience of employment and offers flexible opportunities for those balancing other commitments, such as parenting or caregiving.
Despite the industry’s substantial employment numbers, with three million people directly employed and a further 1.5 million jobs relying on its success, the government has treated retail jobs as an afterthought. This attitude needs to change, as the association of shop work with low pay, insecure hours, and abuse is detrimental not only to employees but also to the industry and the broader economy.
Usdaw calls for a comprehensive plan for the future of retail work, addressing both immediate and urgent priorities facing the industry and its staff. They believe in a coordinated and inclusive approach, urging the government, retailers, and all key stakeholders to engage with them.
By working together, the aim is to deliver the better jobs that retail workers need and deserve while ensuring the future viability of the industry for the benefit of customers, workers, communities, and the economy as a whole.