#usdaw

Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis Announces Retirement

Leading retail trade union Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis is set to retire in July after serving seven years in the role.

Lillis has been a full-time official at Usdaw for over 35 years. He had previously held the post of deputy general secretary for 14 years.

In his time as General Secretary, Lillis has overseen the launch of a number of high-profile Usdaw campaigns, including a Retail Recovery Plan and the New Deal for Workers.

He has worked with retailers and employers’ groups, such as the British Retail Consortium, to highlight the issues facing the retail sector, and led campaigns calling for clear government action.

Lillis has also driven forward the Union’s Freedom From Fear campaign, which delivered new legal protections for shop workers in Scotland, with England, Wales and Northern Ireland set to follow suit.

He serves on the TUC Executive Committee and TUC General Council, and he is a member of the TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce. He has also introduced a programme of work within Usdaw to improve representation of Black members at all levels in the Union.

Speaking about his retirement, Lillis said, “It has been a real privilege to serve Usdaw over the years and I feel proud of what we have achieved together.

“My time as General Secretary has brought many challenges, but I will be retiring with the Union in very good shape financially and with growing membership.

“The Union has campaigned tirelessly for many years for increased protection for retail workers and stronger rights at work, and I will be leaving at a time when the Labour Government will be delivering on some of our campaigns.”

Dave McCrossen, Deputy General Secretary, has also announced he will be retiring in July after seven years in the role. Dave has been a full-time official for over 35 years.

A former employee of the Co-operative Retail Society, McCrossen started his Usdaw career when he became an Area Organiser in 1989.

16 years later he was promoted to Deputy Divisional Officer. Working closely with Lillis, he was responsible for developing the organising agenda within the Division and seeing it grow from 39,000 members to more than 65,000.

In 2014, he was successful in securing the position of Divisional Officer.

Living Wage increase welcomed as a step towards £15 per hour l Living Wage Foundation announces new rates due to cost-of-living crisis. #lowpay #LivingWage #Usdaw

Retail trade union leader Paddy Lillis has welcomed the increase in the real Living Wage rates as a step towards £15 for workers of all ages. The Living Wage Foundation announced new rates for the real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour and a higher rate of £11.95 in London. The annual uprating has been brought forward from the traditional November announcement due to the cost-of-living crisis. The…

Union secures significant pay increase for shop workers l Asda staff to get 7.9% increase after USDAW reopen negotiations. #cost of living crisis #pay #USDAW

Shop workers union Usdaw has secured a 7.9% increase for Asda staff in Northern Ireland after reopening pay negotiations. The deal, secured as part of Usdaw’s New Deal for Workers Campaign, brings pay up to £10.10 per hour from July. The improved settlement reflects the financial pressures workers face because of the worsening cost of living crisis. Kieran Smyth, Usdaw Area Organiser…

Northern Irish Shopworkers Speak Out About Violence, Threats and Abuse - @UsdawUnion Urges Retail Staff Not to Suffer in Silence

Retail trade union Usdaw has today published shocking statistics from their annual survey of nearly 3,500 retail staff, which show that in the last twelve months: 90% have experienced verbal abuse. 64% were threatened by a customer. 12% were assaulted. 61% said they were not confident that reporting abuse, threats and violence will make a difference. Usdaw annual survey full…

Focus on mental health in UK Young Workers' Week l Usdaw reps discuss mental health with young workers l #mental health #Usdaw #young workers

Retail trade union Usdaw has launched their Young Workers’ Week, an opportunity for union reps and activists to reach out to young workers and share the campaigning work that Usdaw does. The week runs from 14 – 20 March and this year’s focus is mental health in the workplace. Over 180 events will be taking place in workplaces, colleges and at street stalls, recruiting young workers to Usdaw and…

Shopworkers celebrate Freedom from Fear Campaign in Heart Unions Week

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw is celebrating achievements for members during Heart Unions Week, 14 to 20 February 2022, an annual event organised by the TUC, After two decades of the Freedom from Fear campaign, which seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, Usdaw secured legislative success in the Scottish Parliament and Westminster to protect retail workers. This…