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Network Journal 2007 Issue 6 Nov/Dec |
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Retail Trades Conference 2007: On the agenda
Seven propositions giving delegates the opportunity to discuss and vote on a wide range of issues appeared on the agenda at the conference.
South Wales and Western division's Pete Watson moved the first on the Tesco sickness leave policy. This called on the union to pursue changes to the policy via the national forum.
Midland's Lynne Griffin drew attention to the problems faced by working parents especially the high cost of childcare. She called on Usdaw to press ahead with its Supporting Parents and Carers campaign and use this to highlight the difficulties faced by low paid workers who fall outside the Government's subsidised scheme.
"This means members have to rely on relatives or work evening shifts to earn a living as many of us cannot afford to pay for childcare costs because we are on the minimum wage or just above," she said.
Midland's Stephen O'Connor spoke up for retired members at Sainsbury's and called for improvements in their discount card provision.
North Eastern division's Peter Capper called for employers not to ask employees to ring a mobile number when reporting absence. "The additional cost of using a mobile phone should not be borne by our members," he said.
North Eastern division's Alice Hamilton called for improvements in premium rates for unsocial hours with special reference to night shift and evening rates.
Scottish division's Neil Ford spoke on the use of 'labour matching' where employees' hours are subject to constant review to meet the demands of the business. "In my own store this has been done five times in the past three years," he said.
Southern division's Lesley Jarvis called on the union to press companies to improve training for their managers on the Disability Discrimination Act. "This will prevent employees covered by this Act from being disadvantaged by their company's absence policy," she said.
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