Sainsbury’s has entered into a new national agreement with Usdaw to improve trade union representation for hourly-paid members working in its stores.
Signed by Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis and Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts, the agreement marks a refreshed commitment to the union and the supermarkets long-standing relationship.
It defines the role of workplace reps, provides additional facilities to enable them to carry out their duties, improves access to training and enhances problem-solving procedures.
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Usdaw national officer, Dave Gill, said: “Usdaw workplace reps are unpaid volunteers who do a brilliant job of providing our members with the advice, support and representation that they need.
“This new partnership agreement is full recognition from Usdaw and all of Sainsbury’s management of the important role our workplace reps have in helping the business to grow and prosper.
“We look forward to a good relationship with the company for many years to come, based on openness, honesty and constructive working, which the company are keen to promote.”
This comes as Sainsbury’s pushes forward with plans to move to three dedicated partnerships with Wincanton, DHL and GXO across transport, food, general merchandise and clothing by the end of 2024, instead of multiple different contracts across the network.
In April the supermarket invested £220m in making the “big, bold” changes that will affect around 7,000 employees.
It is understood that some Usdaw members will be affected, including at Sainsbury’s Pineham depot in Northamptonshire, The Grocer reported.
1 Comment. Leave new
I can remember when it was compulsory to be a member of USDAW.To have a job in a retail supermarket.This was the case when I worked for Tesco.From 21 April 1980 to 28 August 2015.I’m retired now.I think things have changed now and it’s not compulsory to be a USDAW member now.I don’t know what the situation is with Sainsbury’s.