The aim of the day is to recognise the huge contribution that unpaid carers make to society and to let carers know that Usdaw is on their side. Usdaw also wants to use the spotlight day this year to raise awareness of legal rights for working carers.
 
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “Many Usdaw members are juggling paid jobs with caring for someone and while this can be a very rewarding experience, it can also be hugely demanding. Unpaid carers need and deserve to be recognised and supported with their caring roles, but too many of them are not.
 
“Caring often puts household incomes under additional pressure as it can limit your ability to work extra hours and brings extra costs with it that carers would not otherwise have. The work of unpaid carers helps hold society and families together and yet, due to a lack of recognition and support, many unpaid carers are facing financial hardship.
 
“Better support to stay in work benefits carers, the people they care for, employers and the wider economy. Carers make a huge contribution to the NHS, social care
and to society as a whole. Unpaid carers also make a significant difference to the lives of the people they care for and enable disabled people and those living with long-term illnesses and health conditions to lead dignified, independent lives.
 
“Today we put the spotlight on the all-year-round Usdaw campaign for better rights for carers and to support unpaid carers who are under pressure at work. Our fantastic workplace reps are committed to ensuring that carers understand their rights and are able to access the support that is available to them whenever they need it.”
 
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