Addressing conference delegates in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Dave McCrossen – Usdaw deputy general secretary said: “At the core of our health and social care debate are Usdaw members, their families and communities. Every person deserves access to the resources and practical help they need. But since 2010, brutal Tory cuts have left local authorities and the NHS without the funds they need to properly serve the communities around them.
“While we are under no illusion about the scale of this problem, Labour's return to power, brings a commitment to fix the foundations of NHS and local government funding to allocate money where it is needed most. Delivering better value to us as taxpayers, along with high quality services that we can rely on.
“Five years after Covid-19 first impacted on our workplaces, lives and families, we are still feeling the impact. Around two million people in the UK are now living with Long Covid. Three quarters say their day-to-day life and work have been severely affected by fluctuating and unpredictable symptoms. We know this includes many Usdaw members, and despite the best efforts of Usdaw reps, members with Long Covid often face a battle for support at work.
“Like many workers with invisible impairments, they are often disbelieved and denied their right to reasonable adjustments - adjustments they are entitled to - adjustments that would support them to remain in and get on at work. Adjustments that make common sense to our society.
“Research has found shockingly high levels of poor treatment by employers. One in seven workers have lost their jobs because of reasons connected to Long Covid. The TUC are calling for specific reference to Long Covid as a disability, in both the Equality Act, and the Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland. This would automatically protect workers from the point of diagnosis and send a clear message to employers about the protections they must provide.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion