Usdaw announces TUC proposals

Usdaw will be championing the rights of vulnerable workers and looking to improve maternity pay at this year’s Trades Union Congress (TUC) from 8-11 September.

Usdaw will also be amending and supporting two motions on redundancy pay and equality.

Enforcing employment rights – Usdaw proposal

Usdaw will call for:

• Effective enforcement of rights to protect vulnerable and agency workers.
• The extension of the remit of the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority.
• The strengthening of employment rights’ enforcement mechanisms.

Improving maternity pay – Usdaw proposal

Usdaw will resolve to:

• Support affiliates in negotiating improvements to company pay and leave policies for new parents.
• Help affiliates campaign for better maternity pay and leave.
• Circulate examples of cases where unions and employers have agreed improvements to maternity, paternity and adoption pay and leave for working parents.

Redundancy consultation – employers’ liabilities – Usdaw amendment

The redundancy consultation calls for the closure of a legal loophole that allows employers to evade their legal and moral duties to consult and to abandon their financial responsibilities to their staff, passing on their liabilities to the taxpayer.

Usdaw has added an amendment calling for a review and increase in the level of the cap on redundancy pay.

The Equality Bill – Usdaw amendment

The Equality Bill calls for the private sector to be duty bound to recognise all types of equality. It also calls for all strands of equality protection to be given equal status and that all resulting legislation be vigorously enforced.

Usdaw adds that despite almost 40 years of equal pay legislation, the gender pay gap continues to exist, also stating that the legislation places employers under a positive duty to conduct meaningful equal pay audits.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said:

“I am passionate about protecting workers’ rights and especially those who traditionally have found themselves subject to discrimination at work. This includes strengthening the rights of vulnerable and agency workers, women and those facing redundancy.

“Usdaw exists to provide a collective voice to thousands of individuals in the workplace. At congress 2008 we will be speaking as one with other unions in order to make the voice of working people even stronger.”

The TUC will be taking place in Brighton and will be attended by high profile speakers including Alistair Darling and Harriet Harman.

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 367,000 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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