The following resolution, submitted by LU Engineering branch and seconded by Stratford no.1 branch, was passed unanimously by the November meeting of the Regional Council.

That this Branch deplores the weakness of Flexible Working and Parental Leave legislation. The legislation only requires the Employer to "consider" a request by parents and carers for arrangements which allow them to work and take care of their families.

In practice the employer just has to deny the request for any one of ten reasons and the law says that's OK. So the law can actually be used by the employer to prevent carers from working.

Once the request has been denied, the member can try and find a part-time job. If no such job is found they are forced out of the company because they are not considered "capable" of working. Management don't hesitate to use the LU Occupational Health services to achieve the removal of inconvenient staff. This is marked in the CMO and Upgrades areas of LU and makes a mockery of "family friendly policies" and the Government's efforts to get mothers in particular back to paid work.

We ask the RMT to make strong representations to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, to lobby Government to change the law making an offer of part time work, on comparable conditions mandatory on any company with more than 100 employees.

In addition where there is a demonstrable detriment to the children of not allowing their carer to work flexibly the company should be subject to sanctions for neglect.