STAFF employed by retail union Usdaw are staging the second of two consecutive mornings of industrial action over real-terms pay cuts.

The workers at the union’s offices in Glasgow, Cardiff and Salford, represented by the GMB union, are striking today after management offered a 3.5 per cent wage rise and “dismissed a request to discuss a hybrid working policy.”

GMB said that Usdaw bosses had also told workers that they would be “locked out when they present themselves for work in the afternoons.”

Rep Martyn Richardson said: “GMB members are willing and able to return to work on cessation of the strike but have now been informed by management that their offices will be closed for the entire days.

“Our members participating in strike action will therefore be denied entry to their place of work and will have their wages deducted for a full day.

“Staff not taking part in the dispute are, ironically, allowed to work from home. 

“This is not a situation that GMB members wanted nor desired and we have done all we can to avoid strikes.”

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis told the Morning Star: “Usdaw regrets the industrial action being taken by a minority of staff.

“The decision was taken to close the offices on these days so that staff who are working did not have to cross a picket line and were able to provide a limited service dealing with urgent queries from members.”

Mr Lillis said most employees had accepted the latest pay offer, which he claimed amounts to more than 11 per cent when additional pension scheme contributions are included. 

GMB has refused his request to “look at hybrid working at some future point,” he added.