Usdaw kids want flexible working for their parents during school hols

Bev Hughes MP talks to children of Usdaw members

Children of retail workers from across the UK have lobbied the Minister for Children to extend the right to request flexible working for their parents.

The junior lobbyists and their working parents told Beverley Hughes MP, the Minister for Children, that a new survey carried out by retail union Usdaw revealed more than half of Britain’s 2.5 million shopworkers struggle to fit childcare around their working hours and that the pressure intensifies during school holidays.

The survey also revealed that everyday childcare problems including school closures, family illness, sudden breakdowns in care arrangements and school start and finish times heap yet more pressure on working parents.

“Our members tell me that childcare and working hours, particularly during school holidays, cause them real day to day problems,” says Usdaw general secretary John Hannett. “All our members are asking for is the Government to help ease that pressure by extending the legal right to request flexible to all parents of school age children.”

“The survey also revealed that more than half of our members worry about the impact on colleagues when they might have to leave work unexpectedly so it’s time this problem was properly managed. The simple fact is that retail staff are not asking for the earth but a little bit of common sense that will make sure they don’t have to leave their jobs if they can’t balance their work and parental commitments.”

“This government has already done an incredible amount for working parents and we know the Minister will take on board the comments of the children and their parents.”

The Minister was impressed by the children’s comments and pledged to listen to their concerns.

“I was really impressed by Usdaw’s case, which will be a valuable contribution to the Government’s review of flexible working”, Beverley Hughes said. “Usdaw works hard representing working parents and we are looking closely at their campaign aim of extending the right to request flexible working to parents with school age children.”

“Children are at the heart of our political agenda. The introduction of measures like tax credits and the extension of childcare provision have directly benefited low-paid workers. We want to do more to help and I welcomed the opportunity to talk to working Usdaw members and their children as part of the consultation process.”

Usdaw remain the only major trade union who put increasing basic rights for parents on the table for every wage negotiation with major retail employers.

“We’ve also discovered that not having paid time off for family illnesses is a real pressure point and all too often retail workers are forced to take annual leave or lose pay to care for their children,” says John Hannett. “We want the Government and employers to consider paid leave to help working parents overcome these difficulties.”

“This is an issue about fairness and relieving pressure on working parents and while we know there are costs attached but this is about harnessing the skills, talent and experience of millions of working parents.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 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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