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Arena Magazine 2005 Issue 6 November December |
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A great year for Supporting Parents & Carers
Employers, the Government and UK workers now have a much better understanding of the difficulties faced by working people who have parental and/or caring duties.
The following real improvements have been made by Usdaw's negotiators:
- Almost half (48 per cent) of Usdaw members have seen their terms improve in the last year.
- One in every two women members and 40 per cent of men are covered by agreements which have been improved thanks to the campaign.
- Tesco has increased paternity leave from one week to two. Staff are now entitled to two weeks paternity leave at normal pay.
- For more information visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns
Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, one of many Labour MPs supporting the campaign, recently joined members, officials and activists at the Boots site in Beeston, Nottingham to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by working parents and carers.
He was joined by Usdaw convenor Elaine Wightman. "This was an excellent day," she said. "Alan was very positive and he helped spread the message to many of our members.
"Working people can relate to the issues around Supporting Parents and Carers and it has gone down very well on site. Credit to Boots who were very supportive and gave us the time and facilities to promote the campaign."
Meanwhile members mingled with shoppers at the Morrisons store in Ipswich to raise awareness and gain support for the campaign - they also gathered signatures for the campaign petition.
"The campaign's gone down really well with everyone in the store," said union activist and former academy organiser Tracey Low. "The latest spotlight day was a huge success, not only with staff and parents in the store but with members of the public as well who were only too happy to learn about the campaign's aims and then add their names to the petition.
"It was a fun day for everyone," added union rep Margaret Tillotson. The leaflets and balloons were really popular and customers were keen to find out what the campaign was all about and then give their support."
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