Survey reveals strong support for initiative
Shopworkers' trade union Usdaw has launched a membership drive at Marks & Spencer's 450 UK stores after a survey found 'strong support' for the move among the retailer's 65,000 staff.

The union - which has 340,000 members - said that it would begin leafleting potential new members outside M&S stores as a result of last week's survey of existing Usdaw members, which revealed that eight out of 10 of the retailer's staff wanted help securing 'better pay and more respect from management'.

Usdaw said in a statement that it would use its 'vast experience' of working with 'many of Britain's most successful retailers' to sign a formal agreement with M&S to represent its staff.

Usdaw general secretary John Hannett said: 'M&S workers want an independent trade union and one that knows the retail sector inside out, so the more people who join, the greater pressure there will be for M&S to talk to us about a formal recognition agreement.'