Minister for equalities backs Usdaw’s parents and carers

Meg Munn, the Minister for Equalities, has backed Usdaw’s innovative Parents and Carers campaign which aims to boost workplace rights for retail staff who care for loved ones.

The Minister told a packed meeting at Labour’s conference in Brighton that the Parents and Carers campaign was a model for how trade unions can boost maternity and paternity leave for parents and carers and increase rights for Britain’s hidden army of carers.

“One area that has always been a priority for the Government has been and remains children,” Meg Munn said. “In the 2004 Pre-Budget Report and the Ten Year Childcare Strategy we set out our vision for families. We want to ensure that all children get the best start in life, respond to the changing patterns of employment and give parents and carers more choice.”

“We’re also looking at a new right for mothers to transfer a proportion of their maternity leave and pay to fathers as this would give more choice to families about how they wish to care for their child during the first year. New fathers, like new mothers, want to spend more time with their children.”

There was good news for carers as the Minister, a former social care manager, reaffirmed her commitment to helping those who care for others saving the country five billions pounds every year.

“It’s easy for us all to say that carers do a magnificent job and it’s true,” Meg Munn said. “We’re asking for comments about extending the right to request flexible working to carers of sick and disabled relatives and the majority of responses have given broad support for this proposal.”

“We’re consulting with businesses, trade unions and carers groups about precisely what types of carer would be eligible under this extension to the flexible working law.”

“Whatever we decide in this area has to be capable of standing the test of time, that it suits the needs of the carers, the person being cared for and that society as a whole can pay for it.”

Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn is an Usdaw member and General Secretary John Hannett welcomed her support for a campaign that has influenced Government thinking as they overhaul the caring agenda.

“Meg is an outstanding minister who has proved herself adept at putting the rights of millions of parents and carers at the heart of the agenda in Labour’s historic third term,” John Hannett said. “We are presenting a well researched and coherent case for extending the right to request flexible working to every parent who has a child of school age.”

“We know how a little flexibility during crisis periods like school holidays can make all the difference for hard pressed retail staff battling to achieve a proper work/life balance.”

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.

• For more information about Usdaw's Parents and Carers campaign visit our campaigns section on the web site

• 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.

 Printer Friendly Page

 Email to a Friend

© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
This page: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/politics/news/1127820281_12666.html
Last Modified: Friday, 07-Oct-2005 12:36:04 EST
Proudly designed and programmed by Social Change Online
Site Credits