United we stand

But those who represent shopworkers say times have moved on, and that union membership today is about helping rather than hindering retailers in developing their business.

Strength in numbers

Usdaw is the biggest union in retail, with 75% of its membership - nearly 300,000 people - working in the sector. It has strong membership in retailers such as Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, with which it has a partnership arrangement.

Usdaw general secretary John Hannett says the fact it is involved in such big retailers shows the benefit of union membership for staff and retailers alike - acting as an insurance policy for staff and an outside opinion for management. “If we didn’t add value then we wouldn’t be in those businesses,” he says.

“We know and understand the retail sector and have many years of experience. Our members know that when we raise issues we do so with experience,” he says.

The unions say that membership can also help bring a third party to the table - meaning the direct relationship between employee and employer is less likely to be affected, according to Hannett. “We bring a pragmatic voice. It’s about building up trust but also being frank with the employer when we think they have got it wrong,” he says.

But though the food retailers may embrace unions, Hannett admits many other high street non-food names do not. He is clear that working with, rather than against, union membership can bring rewards.

“We have members in Marks & Spencer and John Lewis but we don’t have a dialogue with those employers,” he says. “Some employees are still nervous to admit they are members of a union but we want to give employers a fair choice. We don’t want to be standing outside handing out leaflets. The employers who resist membership to trade unions create an adversarial culture,” Hannett warns.

For some retailers the thought of unions always bring to mind industrial action. “For modern unions that is the last-place scenario,” says Eddie Gaudie, regional organiser for the Northwest and Irish region of the GMB. “It’s about getting rid of the perception of unions being antagonistic. Unions these days understand the needs of the business and their employees,” he explains.

A progressive retailer has nothing to fear from a union, being there to help - not hinder - retailers, says Hannett. “We don’t want businesses to fail, and on a daily basis Usdaw is problem solving not problem causing,” he adds.