Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: 22 November 2008
Carer Watch is pleased to announce the launch of the Carers' Trade Union. The CTU is intended to become a full trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of unwaged carers. It will seek recognition within the trade union movement. It will also seek negotiating rights on behalf of carers.
This will take a considerable time and much work to achieve. It will be independent of Carer Watch and run by its members, developing its own democratic system of management. It is anticipated that it will continue to maintain a close and co-operative relationship with its parent organisation.
If you are interested and feel you can to the formatiion of The Carers Union by being pro active, please feel free to join us http://thecarerstradeunion.myfreeforum.org/ discussion board.
You will be required to post in introductions before access to the full board, patience as well as input will be required at this early formative but important development stage. Help us to help you help and helpinh other carers now and in the future.
The establishment of a carers' trade union is a very long term
project. The point of a manifesto is to have something which raises
the awareness of carers to the present limitations of their
situation. This can then be passed on by carers groups and individual
carers who are interested in the idea. Hopefully, discussion will
develop over time until we have sufficient supporters to set up a
provisional group. So please pass it on so that the largest possible
number of carers may become aware that this discussion is taking place.
Why a trade union for carers ?
The campaign for a carers' trade union is premised on the reality of
the caring situation. Of course, given the variation in the
situations of carers, it fits better into some contexts than others
than others. However, all carers work, regardless of their particular
situation. This fact is often obscured by the notion of family duty
to stricken dear ones.No doubt this idea of family obligation suits
government very well, since it disguises the obvious fact that if
families didn't discharge this 'obligation', it would have to be paid
for out of public funds. The reality is that families are not
necessarily able or available to do this essential work. When they
are, they need to be paid for it. Family financial needs are greater,
not lesser, in caring situations.
The idea that carers are laudable self-sacrificing people who should
be admired and given a hand-out, needs to be opposed. family carers
are unwaged care workers who need and require to be paid for the work
they do. The central objective of a carers' trade union should be to
work for a carers' wage. Carers have a right to a wage, paid for out
of public funds. The care of the sick, disabled and elderly is a
social responsibility in a civilised society.
At the moment, carers are organised in a wide variety of charities
and independent carer-led organisations. The campaign for a carers'
trade union does not seek to replace or undermine these organisations
in any way. We campaign to raise the awareness of carers to the
reality of their situation. We also campaign to raise the awareness
of government to the situation of carers. A carers trade union would
seek recognition for its members and the right to represent them in
negotiations for wages and conditions of service. Family homes in
which caring takes place are also work places and the appropriate
equipment and conditions should exist in them. They should also be
covered by appropriate legislation.
We believe that whatever improvement may be made to the situation of
carers, these can only be safeguarded and improved upon over time by
organised carers themselves. We may appreciate the help offered to us
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