I have been arguing for some time now that we need a carers' trade union to negotiate wages and conditions of service on our behalf.
Is this the time to establish a campaign for the establishment of a carers' trade union ?
7 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Not being a carer I don't know if there are any provisions within the existing trade union movement that could be of help. That said, even if it is time for a carers' union, how difficult would it be to set it up?
As far as I am aware the only carers in trade unions at the moment are employed carers in Unison and USDAW. I have approached both about the possibility of organising home carers, as well as approaching the TUC, more than once, but have received no response.
We, obviously,couldn't establish a trade union at the moment, but we may be able to establish a group to campaign for one.
I don't think there is a single body of people in the Country in term of numbers like carers that are not represented in some sort of union. The numbers of people involved alone would make them a formidable force if they were Unionised. Past efforts to even discuss the formation of one, were scuttled before the discussions could achieve any worthwhile conclusions. Times have changed and with the carers announcement immenent. Carers are at last realising that the only way they will get anywhere is by self representation, the "charities" have had their chance and have sadly been found lacking. The only alternative is a Union free of the old guard, with Carers rights and Carers rights the only agenda.
I think that we should keep the idea of starting a campaign group for the formation of a carers' trade union at the top of the agenda. It would be a clear declaration of intent and be a focus for campaigning.
If we could get enough carers to join a trade union campaign group this would prevent the issue from falling off the agenda again.
I Agree Dugsie, Your wisdom is way beyond your years. There have been several discussions about it in the past. If we bounce idea arounf a bit see if there are any unionised carers past or present see what they say and get a group interested in taking this forward. Where would be the best platfrom for discussion be?, on one of the supportive independent Carers boards?
www.carwatch.com for the CarerWatch site. The address for the Campaign for a Carers' Trade Union on the CarerWatch forum will be available on this blog, when it is set up.
7 comments:
Not being a carer I don't know if there are any provisions within the existing trade union movement that could be of help. That said, even if it is time for a carers' union, how difficult would it be to set it up?
As far as I am aware the only carers in trade unions at the moment are employed carers in Unison and USDAW. I have approached both about the possibility of organising home carers, as well as approaching the TUC, more than once, but have received no response.
We, obviously,couldn't establish a trade union at the moment, but we may be able to establish a group to campaign for one.
I don't think there is a single body of people in the Country in term of numbers like carers that are not represented in some sort of union. The numbers of people involved alone would make them a formidable force if they were Unionised.
Past efforts to even discuss the formation of one, were scuttled before the discussions could achieve any worthwhile conclusions.
Times have changed and with the carers announcement immenent. Carers are at last realising that the only way they will get anywhere is by self representation, the "charities" have had their chance and have sadly been found lacking. The only alternative is a Union free of the old guard, with Carers rights and Carers rights the only agenda.
I agree Iain.
I think that we should keep the idea of starting a campaign group for the formation of a carers' trade union at the top of the agenda. It would be a clear declaration of intent and be a focus for campaigning.
If we could get enough carers to join a trade union campaign group this would prevent the issue from falling off the agenda again.
I Agree Dugsie,
Your wisdom is way beyond your years. There have been several discussions about it in the past. If we bounce idea arounf a bit see if there are any unionised carers past or present see what they say and get a group interested in taking this forward. Where would be the best platfrom for discussion be?, on one of the supportive independent Carers boards?
How about having the discussion on Carer Watch Iain ?
carerwatch@googlemail.com
Sorry, that should be:-
www.carwatch.com for the CarerWatch site. The address for the Campaign for a Carers' Trade Union on the CarerWatch forum will be available on this blog, when it is set up.
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