Usdaw hails breakthrough for Britain’s army of carers

Supporting Parents and Carers campaign

Retail union Usdaw has hailed the Government’s plans to extend the right to request flexible working to carers as a massive breakthrough for thousands of retail workers who care for sick and disabled relatives.

The right to request flexible working will be extended to carers in 2007 and union leaders say it will allow some of Britain’s most successful retailers to retain valued staff who need some flexibility in their working lives.

“We’ve been one of the main backers of extending the right to request flexible working to carers,” says Usdaw general secretary John Hannett. “We’re delighted the Government listened to our strong case and recognised that the unpaid army of carers in the retail sector need some help if they are to continue working and caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

“We know what the pressures are for our members with caring responsibilities because we’ve asked them. Throughout this year, as part of our national Supporting Parents and Carers campaign, we ran a survey of our members with parenting and caring responsibilities”

“Just under two thirds of those that identified themselves as carers of an adult told us that because of their caring role they have wanted to ask for changes to their working hours but either felt unable to do so or felt that their request had not been seriously considered. From 2007 this will change.”

“Make no mistake, this is a massive step forward for carers who do so much for others, so full credit to the Government for recognising this fact and giving carers the right to approach their employer to ask for some flexibility. We’ll be supporting our members with their requests, after all it makes sense for them and their employers who risk losing committed, experienced and skilled members of staff.”

Usdaw is also committed to continue talking to Ministers to make sure retail workers are treated fairly on bank holidays when many of them have to work.

"Usdaw welcomed the announcement that bank holidays will not be counted as part of the 20 days statutory leave,” John Hannett said. “But we will be pressing the government to make sure that staff who have to work on bank holidays, as many staff in retail and distribution do, should have the right to a paid day off in lieu. This is a point we will be making to Ministers during the forthcoming consultation."

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 341,000 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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