Usdaw scoops TUC Equality award for groundbreaking Parents and Carers campaign

Retail union Usdaw has won the TUC’s prestigious Equality Award for its groundbreaking Supporting Parents and Carers campaign that has boosted basic rights for thousands of union members.

The award was presented to Usdaw’s Equalities officer Jo Bird today at the TUC Congress in Brighton, rewarding a campaign that has won better maternity rights for working mothers, extended paid paternity leave for working fathers and put the issue of paid time off for carers of disabled adults firmly on the negotiating agenda.

“Usdaw is delighted to accept the TUC Equality Award as it is recognition that Supporting Parents and Carers has made a real difference to the working lives of hundreds of thousands of our members,” Jo Bird said in her acceptance speech to Congress. “Usdaw’s General Secretary, John Hannett, took the bold step of putting extending rights for parents and carers at the heart of every negotiation with employers and it has really paid off for our members across the UK.

“Our women members, in particular, played an important role in shaping this campaign and we didn’t have to second guess the issues because our members told us about them, we listened and we acted. They made sure that we campaigned for improvements that actually made a real difference where it matters – on the shopfloor.

“But it is really an award that recognises the massive effort our members put in to persuade their employers that extending flexibility to Usdaw’s thousands of working parents and carers makes good business sense. Staff turnover in the sectors where we have members is notoriously high. Enabling parents and carers to better balance work with their family life is a simple, but very effective, way of holding onto experienced and skilled staff.”

The award was hailed by Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett as a breakthrough in the union’s pioneering equalities work.

“Since I became General Secretary I have been determined that Usdaw doesn’t just pay lip service to our equalities agenda but makes sure we properly resource this vital area of our work,” John Hannett said. “I’m proud that the TUC has recognised everyone involved in the Supporting Parents and Carers campaign. There is no doubt this campaign has been incredibly successful in delivering real gains for our members.

“The employers we work with recognise that retail workers deserve a proper work/life balance and are working with us to extend rights for parents and carers because they know this will help retain well trained, highly motivated staff.

“Travelling around the country I have seen the daily struggles of those who care for children or disabled adults while battling to hold down a job. This campaign has begun the long process of making sure that retail workers can get a balance in their lives that many other workers take for granted.”

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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