Arena Magazine 2005 Issue 6 November December

Conference call 2005

The Labour Party conference is the biggest political event of its kind and Usdaw was there to lobby for the interests of union members at work, at home and in the wider community.

Usdaw's Parents and Carers campaign continues to influence the Government since its launch earlier this year and general secretary John Hannett raised its profile even further when he spoke at the Brighton conference.

"The vast majority of our members are carers," he said. "They are the backbone of the family, working to give their children a better education and working to give elderly and sick relatives the care they need.

"Those carers take on five billion pounds' worth of care and without them our care system would collapse."

John reminded conference that although Labour has done a lot for working people there is still work that needs to be done. "In sectors such as retail, flexible working is vital in retaining staff, but it must work both ways so that the needs of the business and employees are met.

"The vast majority of our working parents have to work at weekends so we are seeking to redress the balance by extending the right to request flexible working to carers and all parents with children of school age.

"When parents are having to work long hours they need the right to take time off to support their children at all ages, especially when there are problems.

"Let's implement the agreement between the unions and Labour at Warwick last year and build on it. Important issues like the rights to an extra eight days paid bank holidays, proper breaks at work and enforcing legal limits on working hours will protect and reward hard working families."

Health care debate

Activist Maggie Hughes, left, made an impassioned plea for community nurses during the debate on health care.

The mother of eight who cared for her elderly mother said those nurses were the vital link between the GP, patient and carers. "I don't want reform of the system," said Maggie. "I don't want more choice or 'diversity of supplier'. I want local nurses to be supported in the wonderful job they do."

Labour's national executive committee

Deputy general secretary Paddy Lillis is now a member of Labour's national executive committee - which liaises directly with the prime minister on all important policy decisions.

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