Usdaw calls on chancellor to ‘save our shops’ ahead of budget

The union said it was launching a ‘Save Our Shops’ campaign calling for an ‘industrial strategy for retail’ that would: “review taxation, commercial rents and business rates to ensure a level playing field” between bricks-and-mortar and pureplay retailers; provide a blanket minimum wage of £10 for all retail workers; and give staff a say “over the future of retail and the introduction of new technology”.

Usdaw said new chancellor Rishi Sunak could go some way to achieving this in his first budget, due to be delivered this Wednesday, by “tackling disproportionate business rates, ending excessive town and city-centre parking charges and eliminating violence, threats and abuse against shops staff”.

The union’s general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “With 57,000 job losses across the sector last year, the government needs to use this budget to tackle the issues behind the retail sector crisis.

“On Wednesday, the chancellor must level the playing field between online and high street retailers by delivering fundamental reform to the business rates system. Business rates have become a huge burden on the sector.

“The British Retail Consortium and many high-profile retailers have been vocal in raising their concerns on why this issue needs addressing, but so far we have seen little progress. We very much share their concerns, which is why we launched our ‘Save our Shops’ campaign.

“In addition to business rates, there are a host of other issues that are holding the sector back and require urgent attention from government. Usdaw has produced an industrial strategy for the retail sector outlining the need for government action that will resolve the problems with excessive town and city-centre parking charges, tackle the escalating rate of violence against shop staff and address high levels of staff turnover across the industry.

“Usdaw is calling on the government to engage with all relevant stakeholders and produce a comprehensive industrial strategy for retail.”

The union added its voice to what has been a swelling chorus in the retail sector calling on the government to address the “broken business rates system” ahead of Wednesday’s budget.

Earlier today, Co-op chief executive Steve Murrells urged the chancellor to reform business rates and address the “hidden human cost” it was having on the UK’s most economically vulnerable towns.

Sunak was named chancellor of the exchequer on February 13, following the surprise resignation of his predecessor Sajid Javid.

While he has made no commitment to addressing business rates at the next budget, Sunak and the treasury have promised to conduct a thorough review of the system at some point in the future.