In a bitter internal row at one of the unions that strongly supports Labor leader Keir Starmer, office staff at Usdaw’s Salford headquarters, which represents retail workers, rejected a union pay offer of 3.5% . Usdaw employees, who are represented by the GMB union, are also seeking a commitment to possible home working, which staff say is not allowed. But Paddy Lillis, general secretary of Usdaw, whose full name is the Union of Shop, Distribution and Allied Workers, said the full value of the pay offer was more than 11% if an extra £1.3m was committed to union final salary. pension scheme. Lillis said the dispute involved fewer than 100 of the union’s 400 employees and that those represented by two other internal organizations had agreed to the union’s pay offer. Lillis said he was “absolutely furious” with the GMB organizers involved, arguing that discussions about homework should have been separated from those about pay. “You’re asking me to change your employment contract so that some of you can work from home,” he said. “For me it is a matter of policy and I have asked them not to put it in the salary claim so we will see it next year. “My main priority is to get this union firing on all cylinders again. We lost 70,000 members in the two years of the pandemic. Our members are low paid and all had to go to work during the pandemic to keep the country moving. I’ve told them – pick your battles and it’s not something you have to pick. “Working from home is not a simple matter. There are various issues relating to health and safety, insurance and maintaining the service to members. That’s why I said I’ll look into it next year. I am disappointed in the small number who are holding the rest to ransom. We cannot pay the increase until this is resolved.” Those involved in the dispute, Lillis added, should consider the plight of many of the shopkeepers represented by Usdaw: “Some of them cannot afford to buy food in their own supermarket and we will strike when we are all well paid on good terms and conditions as you would expect from a union. I’m absolutely thrilled with them.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Last month, Lillis called for “a degree of silence” from other union chiefs who criticized Mr Starmer for his lack of support for striking workers. Karen Lewis, organizer for the GMB, said: “GMB members working at Usdaw are challenged. They are demanding a cost of living wage increase and unanimously rejected a 3.5% offer. “Their claim is a reflection of the growing financial insecurities we all face. Staff are also looking for a commitment to explore new ways of working. GMB remains open to finding a mutual resolution to the dispute.”
