Winter Gardens Blackpool signs multi-year deal with UK’s fifth biggest union

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has committed to holding its annual delegate meeting (ADM) at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens entertainment complex until at least 2024.

The union has held its ADM in the seaside town regularly since its formation in 1947 and met in Blackpool exclusively every year since 1991.

With over 430,000 members, Usdaw is currently the fifth biggest union in the UK.

To mark the new agreement with the Winter Gardens and tourism bureau VisitBlackpool, Usdaw general secretary John Hannett signed a commemorative brick that will be used as part of the town’s new £25m Conference and Exhibition Centre, opening next year.

John said: “Even before it was officially formed in the mid-1940s, Blackpool was a popular destination for a number of trade unions which eventually merged to become Usdaw.

“Since 1947 our delegates have always found it to be a fantastic place to meet, debate and vote on important union matters and I fully support the Union’s decision to commit to Blackpool for at least the next six years.”

Winter Gardens managing director Michael Williams commented: “Organisations like Usdaw have been part of the fabric of Blackpool’s business tourism offer for over 70 years, so it seemed fitting to get a commemorative brick signed which will physically become part of the new conference centre’s foundations.

“These bricks also symbolise how the Winter Gardens complex is literally building for the future to accommodate larger and more diverse events, and deliver delegates an even better experience as a result.”

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