Supporting Parents and Carers
Usdaw's Supporting Parents and Carers Campaign seeks to improve the lives of workers with either parental or caring responsibilities. Around 75% of Usdaw members are either parents or carers (or both) and they tell us loud and clear that they need the Union to campaign for them.
The campaign aims to make gains through our negotiations with companies and to campaign with Government for more rights. Since it was launched in 2004 the campaign has delivered:
1. Negotiated improvements in the terms and conditions for more than two-thirds of our members.
2. New rights for parents, like extended paid maternity leave and adoptive leave.
3. New rights for carers, like the right to request flexible working and an increase in the earnings threshold for Carers Allowance.
The last spotlight day was on Wednesday 11 June 2008 where we campaigned for new rights and benefits to help carers either stay in work or be able to access work.