Winning through campaigning (Leaflet 363)

Date: 01 June 2008

Winning through campaigning

Usdaw - The Campaigning Union. For a better deal and protection at work - join Usdaw today.

Winning through campaigning

Usdaw is campaigning day in day out with employers and Government on a wide range of issues. By joining Usdaw and taking part in our campaigns you can make a real difference. You'll find out more about our campaigning work in this leaflet.

People tell us that they join Usdaw for all kinds of reasons:

• Protection at work.
• A safer workplace.
• Better terms and conditions at work.

FACT - You get more pay if you're in a union organised workplace.

FACT - You get more time off if you're in a union organised workplace.

FACT - Your workplace is safer if you're in a union organised workplace.

By joining Usdaw you help us achieve more - because the more members we have the louder and stronger we become.

And when you join you also get the personal protection that union membership offers:

• Free help and advice.
• Free first class legal service.
• Free representation on disciplinary and grievance matters.

For a better deal and protection at work - join Usdaw today.

Respect for Shopworkers

Our message 'Abuse is not part of the job' is getting through. Not only to employers but also to customers.

Our campaign has seen us work with employers, local councils and the police looking for them to deal with crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in shops and shopping areas.

Our thousands of health and safety reps are trained by Usdaw to regularly inspect workplaces and oversee risk assessments to identify and address problems.

Join Usdaw and together we can help stamp out violence and abuse against shopworkers.

Parents and Carers

Helping our members claim their rights is an important part of our campaigning work. As a union member you will never be better informed.

And your rights at work are getting better. Thanks to the campaigning work of Usdaw, this year the Government introduced:

• Paid maternity leave increased to nine months and will rise to 12 months in 2009.
• An extension of the right to request flexible working to all working carers. Usdaw is campaigning for all parents of under 18s to be included as well.

The more members we have will help us improve on these rights through negotiations with employers.

Working Time

Thanks to our campaigning work, new legislation means that all workers will be entitled to a minimum of 24 days holiday a year from October 2007 and 28 days from April 2009.

Because of Usdaw's campaigning, large stores across the UK are not allowed to open on Christmas Day. We stood up to the big retailers and we won for our members.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we fought off plans to deregulate Sunday trading and allow stores to open for the whole day.

In Scotland Usdaw is continuing to campaign for a ban on large stores opening on New Year's Day.

Money

It was Usdaw who lead the campaign and convinced the Government to introduce a National Minimum Wage. Usdaw has successfully campaigned for the minimum wage to be substantially increased each year since it was introduced. But increases to the minimum wage should not be taken for granted.

Usdaw also campaigned for and won the introduction of a minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds. We are currently campaigning for the adult rate to be applied at 18 and not the current 22.

5 good reasons to join Usdaw

1. Help and representation at work by our experienced reps and officials covering you for issues such as pay, conditions of service, grievances and disciplinaries.

2. The back up of a professional team of lawyers.

3. A free legal service to protect you if you have an accident anywhere in the UK.

4. A safer and healthier workplace.

5. Cash benefits for times of need.

• They have higher rates of pay.
• Staff receive more holidays.
• Sick pay arrangements are better.
• Women and ethnic minorities are treated more fairly.
• There are fewer accidents.
• Staff receive more training.
• Staff have increased job security.
• There are more learning opportunities for staff.

Join Usdaw today

Usdaw represents over 359,000 members, many in the retail sector.

The best way to protect and improve your rights at work is to join Usdaw. It's probably the best investment you'll ever make, see membership rates for details.

You can join Usdaw by completing the downloadable form below and returning it to:

Usdaw,
188 Wilmslow Road
Fallowfield
Manchester
M14 6LJ

Alternatively, you can join online.

For more information contact your union rep or ring the Usdaw helpline 0845 6060640 (calls charged at local rate).

Winning through campaigning (Leaflet 363) was correct at date of publication June 2008.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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Last Modified: Friday, 12-Sep-2008 01:04:47 EST