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Usdaw
ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS: Usdaw general secretary and Labour Unions chair Joanne Thomas at the Co-operative Party Conference in London, November 2025.
Workers' Rights / 29 April 2026
29 April 2026

JOANNE THOMAS welcomes the Employment Rights Act as an instrument for the much-needed revitalisation of trade union membership and activism

USDAW General Secretary and Labour Unions Chair Joanne Thomas speaks during the Co-operative Party Conference at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in central London, November 15, 2025
Workers' Rights / 28 April 2026
28 April 2026

JOANNE THOMAS argues that unions’ political voice remains vital to winning stronger rights and protections for working people

USDAW General Secretary and Labour Unions Chair Joanne Thomas speaks during the Co-operative Party Conference at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in central London, November 15, 2025
Usdaw Conference 2026 / 27 April 2026
27 April 2026

Usdaw is working hard alongside its members to smash down barrriers facing neurodivergent workers, writes Joanne Thomas 

Labour Party Conference 2025 / 30 September 2025
30 September 2025
Joanne Thomas campaigning for safe shopwork
Durham Miners’ Gala 2025 / 12 July 2025
12 July 2025

Incoming Usdaw general secretary JOANNE THOMAS talks to Ben Chacko about workers’ rights, Labour and how to arrest the decline of the high street

A new baby holding the finger of its mother
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 7 May 2025
7 May 2025
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 7 May 2025
7 May 2025
People take part in the National march for Palestine in cent
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 7 May 2025
7 May 2025
Solar panels on the roof of a property
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 6 May 2025
6 May 2025
Pupils in a classroom
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 6 May 2025
6 May 2025
Health Secretary Wes Streeting addressing the Usdaw annual conference in Blackpool's Winter Gardens
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 5 May 2025
5 May 2025
Striking Usdaw members at Weetabix
Usdaw conference 2025 / 6 May 2025
6 May 2025

By sticking together, working collectively and building the union, we can weather any uncertainty ahead, writes general secretary of Usdaw PADDY LILLIS

A plane leaving Newcastle Airport
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 5 May 2025
5 May 2025
Alcohol for sale in an Edinburgh off-licence shop
Usdaw Conference 2025 / 5 May 2025
5 May 2025
A man carrying bags in the Broadmead shopping area of Bristo
Britain / 23 December 2024
23 December 2024
A Universal Credit sign on a door of a job centre plus in ea
TUC Congress 2024 / 10 September 2024
10 September 2024
We need a proper social security system that supports families and provides a proper safety net, writes PADDY LILLIS, calling for the Labour government to lift the cruel two-child benefit cap
Features / 21 May 2024
21 May 2024
Last year an estimated 120,000 retail workers lost their jobs and nearly 10,000 shops closed — Usdaw regional secretary MIKE WALKER calls for action to protect workers in the rapidly changing retail sector
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, holds a meeting with membe
Britain / 1 May 2024
1 May 2024
British one pound coins
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 1 May 2024
1 May 2024
Features / 1 May 2024
1 May 2024
The growing epidemic of retail crime has seen Usdaw members abused, threatened and assaulted — it is time for action, and the May 2 elections can provide it, writes PADDY LILLIS
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 30 April 2024
30 April 2024
Paddy Lillis
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 30 April 2024
30 April 2024
Usdaw is affiliated to the Labour Party because it is our pa
Features / 30 April 2024
30 April 2024
General secretary PADDY LILLIS explains why Usdaw believes supporting Labour is vital for its members’ well-being — rising costs, economic instability, and punitive restrictions on unions underscore the urgent need for political change
A gas hob with a bill from British Gas, February 8, 2007
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 29 April 2024
29 April 2024
Paddy Lillis
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 29 April 2024
29 April 2024
Usdaw Conference 2024 / 29 April 2024
29 April 2024
Keir Starmer with Paddy Lillis at Usdaw HQ
Features / 27 April 2024
27 April 2024
PADDY LILLIS makes the case for voting Labour at the next general election
A bowl of cornflakes cereal
Britain / 11 February 2024
11 February 2024
Britain / 13 November 2023
13 November 2023
Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis
TUC 2023 / 11 September 2023
11 September 2023
by PADDY LILLIS, Usdaw general secretary
A Tesco employee collects trolleys at a Tesco store in Burto
Editorial / 3 September 2023
3 September 2023
People lay wreaths at the annual International Workers' Memo
Britain / 28 April 2023
28 April 2023
Britain pays tribute to those killed and injured at work on International Workers Memorial Day
Britain / 26 April 2023
26 April 2023
Usdaw delegates praise CWU for ‘valiant’ fight against bosses
Features / 25 April 2023
25 April 2023
Usdaw general secretary PADDY LILLIS introduces a new initiative to improve the representation of black members and make sure the union properly reflects its wider membership 
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar visits Usdaw's annual del
Britain / 25 April 2023
25 April 2023
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar hits out at scandal-hit governments at Usdaw’s annual delegate meeting
WITH LABOUR: Keir Starmer (left) with Paddy Lillis at Usdaw
Features / 24 April 2023
24 April 2023
From working closely with Labour to write its New Deal for Working People, we know it is essential that Keir Starmer takes Downing Street at the next election, writes Usdaw general secretary PADDY LILLIS
Usdaw's deputy general secretary Dave McCrossen
Britain / 23 April 2023
23 April 2023
Features / 23 April 2023
23 April 2023
In light of new research that shows low-paid workers are worse off than ever, Usdaw general secretary PADDY LILLIS explains why his union is renewing its call for action on pay, contracts and employment rights
CHANGE NEEDED: Shopworkers need greater protections in the w
Features / 21 April 2023
21 April 2023
More proactive and robust action is needed from employers to shift workplace cultures, writes Usdaw general secretary PADDY LILLIS
Empty fruit and vegetable shelves at an Asda in east London
Editorial / 10 March 2023
10 March 2023