| Usdaw is shocked the news of job losses at Marks and Spencer |
06 January 2009
Usdaw is shocked the news of job losses at Marks and Spencer has come so early in the New Year and also that once again staff are finding out via the media that their jobs may be under threat.
John Gorle, National Officer said: "Usdaw is the union that represents thousands of Marks and Spencer staff and we want to know the business case for this decision and are seeking to meet with the company to have urgent meaningful consultation to allow us to fully represent any of our members that may be affected."
"We hope other retailers will not panic and announce major redundancies as their staff are their greatest asset and Usdaw will always encourage companies to take a long term view. Retailers will not want to lose experienced and trained staff and also redundancy can be a costly option and also lead to poor morale among the remaining workforce."
"It is important that retailers maintain staffing levels to ensure a high level of customer service and satisfaction otherwise they run the risk of customers going elsewhere."
"The retail sector has been through recessions before and will come through again. We are concerned about the effect of an economic downturn on the retail sector and will continue to support our members through the challenging times ahead. It is now more important than ever that Marks and Spencer staff join Usdaw, which has the experience and expertise to fully represent them."