Usdaw calls for more money for pregnant women

Usdaw, the shopworkers’ union, has called for improved maternity pay. The motion was backed by unions at the TUC conference this afternoon.

Unions have resolved to work together to negotiate improvements to company pay and leave policies for new parents. They will share examples of best practice where unions and employers have agreed improvements to maternity, paternity and adoption pay and leave for working parents.

John Hannett, Usdaw, Usdaw General Secretary, said:

“The issue of maternity pay affects many of our members, the majority of whom are women. It is important that they get the financial support that they need.

“At the moment, the flat rate of maternity pay is still too low. It is currently calculated on average earnings during a very specific eight-week period and not on contractual salary, which means that many women fail to qualify for it, or receive a reduced amount where they have been off sick or taken unpaid or parental leave.

“We will be campaigning to raise maternity pay to a more respectable amount and to change the way it is calculated.

“We will also be calling for women who take up their entitlement to Additional Maternity Leave to have the same rights to return to their job as those who return at the end of Ordinary Maternity Leave.

“Workers that receive good pay and conditions make more loyal employees, which is better both for them and for employers.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 368,000 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.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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