Put carers in the spotlight on June 14

Supporting Parents and Carers Campaign

There are many hundreds of Usdaw members who play a vital role caring for disabled, elderly and vulnerable relatives or friends.

Unfortunately carers often receive very little recognition or support from their employer for the valuable work they do.

On June 14, Usdaw will hold the second of its campaign spotlight days with the focus on carer’s rights. The day will highlight the real problems carers have at work and why Usdaw is pressing employers and Government for real improvements.

The Supporting Parents and Carers Campaign aims to improve the situation for carers at work by relieving some of the enormous pressures members’ with caring commitments face.

Usdaw’s parents and carers survey gave the union the opportunity to listen to the voice of carers – a section of our membership that sometimes finds it hard to be heard. This is what they had to say:

“Pressure and more pressure, the dreadful feeling when the phone rings and you have to ask for time off . . . ”

“My mum is regularly admitted to hospital – usually at the drop of a hat . . . my personnel manager refuses to recognise me as a carer because my mum’s condition fluctuates . . .”

“The pressure of looking after my elderly mum and working full-time was getting too much for me . . . I had no support whatsoever from my employer . . . I had to leave because I felt if I had a breakdown I would be no use to my mum.”

Usdaw is working closely with employers to try and negotiate paid time off for carers so they don’t lose money or use up precious holiday entitlement which leaves them with no time for themselves. Usdaw also wants Government to extend the right to request flexible working to carers so they have a right to a say in their working hours.

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 224 2804 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.

• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.

• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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