Addressing the Annual Delegate Meeting, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general Secretary said: “Workers are being let down by gaps in legislation, gaps in policy and gaps in support. Employers don't have to wait for laws to change to act and as trade unionists we won't let them. Small changes to workplace policy and management attitudes, mean big changes to workers' lives, creating better workplaces, that are supportive, inclusive and flexible to reflect our individual lives and circumstances.
 
“While the Usdaw welcomes carers leave as an important step in the right direction, without pay, Usdaw members and other low paid workers are going to struggle to use it. This is made more acute by the ongoing cost of living crisis because carers already face huge additional costs relating to caring that are difficult enough to meet.
 
“So even a small drop in pay can have a big impact, making it harder to pay for the bills and essentials they need, for themselves and their loved one. Instead of worrying about making ends meet if they need time off to care, carers deserve a right they can use.
 
“Usdaw is already campaigning and having those conversations with employers, about the importance of building on the statutory right. This will be a focus of our Spotlight Day in June and we will continue to negotiate and push employers for paid carers leave.”
 
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: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion