Having access to a trade union ensures that Central Co-op’s employees’ voices are heard as a collective through a relationship with its union, sharing common goals regarding pay and reward.
The co-operative retailer, which has more than 500 trading outlets across 23 UK counties, employs around 7,500 employees in food retail, funeral services and property sectors.
Central Co-op’s employees negotiate their pay and benefits through a group of representatives, who work with the union Usdaw on key processes and include negotiations. When reviewing potential negotiations, the organisation welcomes open discussions about employees’ expectations and its proposals with the unions and the representatives. Together with them, it aims to work towards a fair outcome for all, which is aligned to its co-operative values.
The retailer values its relationship with the union and works with it to achieve the best outcome for everyone, says Jennifer Roberts, head of reward and wellbeing at Central Co-op.
“We’re steered by our co-operative values and principles which have guided the actions of all co-operatives and its members for more than 180 years,” she says. ”Our union, Usdaw, supports us in demonstrating alignment to these values, in particular democracy, equality, equity, and solidary. Being a member of Usdaw also opens benefits to employees in addition to the benefits we offer.”
Central Co-op communicates with its union through a relationship with its national officer, with whom it is in contact with on a regular basis. The employer openly shares regular updates about the organisation, any potential changes, the work it is doing to make a difference to its employees and more.
As part of its commitment to its co-operative values and principles, and democracy in particular, the employer believes it is imperative that its employees have a real voice.
The union also provides employees with the ability to have a combined voice for the organisation to hear and respond to, adds Roberts.
“Being part of a union means the society and its employees work in solidarity, with a purpose to support employees throughout their employment with us,” she says. ”We feel that our union helps us to demonstrate some of our other co-op values, including equality and equity.”
