A call for action to breathe life back into High Street trade is coming to Dumfries on Saturday.
Usdaw, the trade union for retailers, is bringing its Save Our Shops campaign to the town on Saturday morning.
Hugh McCreadie, who has been a member of Usdaw for more than 50 years, will be among those backing the event.
He said: “Shop workers aren’t sure of their jobs at the minute such is the situation with the industry. There are so many redundancies being made throughout different shops.
“I’m a retired member but I’ve been a member of the union for 52 years. To see Dumfries High Street in the way it currently is just really worrying.
“Something needs to be done. We want to raise awareness of the situation by holding this event and getting the word out there about our campaign.”
The union is calling on the government, through a petition, to protect jobs in the retail sector by introducing measures to balance High Street shopping with online retailing. Usdaw is also looking for a minimum wage of £10 per hour for shop workers and to tackle zero and short hour contracts.
Similar demonstrations have taken place already this year in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Mr McCreadie added: “We’ve got people coming down from Glasgow and Kilmarnock to show their support too so we hope it’s well attended.
“Local shop stewards are distributing leaflets to get the word out.”
The petition to the government will also be available to be signed.
Activists are going to be meeting on the High Street near the fountain from 10am-2pm.
