USDAW backs PR
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) today voted to support Proportional Representation for general elections at its 76th Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM).
The union, which represents workers in retail, transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades, voted in favour of a composite motion committing it to supporting a change in the electoral system.
USDAW, one of the largest Labour-affiliates, joins other unions in opposing the current First Past the Post system. Trade unions representing over two thirds of the affiliate membership now have policy in favour of electoral reform.
Keep reading below for more info, press coverage and an oped by USDAW Deputy General Secretary Dave McCrossen.
USDAW’s Annual Delegate Meeting voted in favour of proposition 88 - adopting policy strongly in favour of Proportional Representation for general elections.
The news follows the historic vote at the 2022 Labour Party conference in favour of a manifesto commitment to introducing PR in the first term of the next Labour government.
Labour for a New Democracy and our partners Politics For The Many welcome USDAW’s support - and we look forward to working with members of all trade unions to help deliver a fair voting system for the House of Commons.
Phil Crooks moving the proposition on PR at USDAW’s Annual Delegate Meeting.
💥 Brilliant news that @UsdawUnion has voted to back Proportional Representation at its Annual Delegate Meeting in Blackpool
— LCER (@Labour4PR) April 25, 2023
📈 With Usdaw's backing, unions representing over two thirds of Labour affiliates now support electoral reform
👏 Congratulations to #Usdaw23 delegates!
Why USDAW now backs proportional representation — and Labour must too
By Dave McCrossen
“USDAW this week took the historic decision to back proportional representation (PR) for Westminster elections. Our union represents over 360,000 workers in retail, distribution, food manufacturing, call centres and many other trades. Our members are working people who across the country are confronted by the cost of living crisis. They know that politics isn’t working for them – and that the Westminster system is part of the problem…”
Unions representing over 2/3rds of Labour affiliates now have policy in favour of Proportional Representation
— LCER (@Labour4PR) April 26, 2023
Our message is clear: PR must be part of the path to a better future for working people@DaveMccrossen Deputy General Secretary @usdawunion https://t.co/5B82E3cy6m
Majority of Labour-Linked Trade Unions Now Back Electoral Reform After Shop Workers Call for PR
By Josiah Mortimer
Two-thirds of trade unions that support the Labour Party now back a major change to Westminster’s voting system, after shop workers’ union USDAW became the latest to throw its weight behind the campaign.
Delegates at the union’s Annual Delegate Meeting yesterday backed a motion calling on USDAW to “support the introduction of proportional representation for general elections, to protect and improve democracy in the UK”.
NEW: Two-thirds of trade unions that support the Labour Party now back a major change to Westminster’s voting system, after shop workers’ union USDAW became the latest to throw its weight behind the campaign https://t.co/i5O8XiHcBg
— Josiah Mortimer (@josiahmortimer) April 26, 2023
