Unite the Union signs the Dying to Work Charter

With a stroke of a pen, Unite have led the way in providing much needed protection for any employees of the union having to cope with a diagnosis of a terminal illness.

This year has seen major progress for the campaign, with agreements reached not only with Unite but also across the Civil Service, one of the UK’s largest employers. Together with other recent signings, including Morrisons, the number of workers covered by Dying to Work agreements has now risen to over two million.

When illness affects working lives

The reality is that many workers get a serious illness at some time in their working lives. They may require time off, often many months, to get treatment or recover. There is good guidance that has been produced by the TUC and others to deal with cases of long-term illness, or return to work for those who are disabled as a result of an illness or injury.

However, sometimes there is no effective treatment. In these cases, the worker may face a time of huge emotional stress, fear and uncertainty. The Dying to Work Charter is a commitment to giving workers the security and peace of mind of knowing that decisions about their employment will be made by them.

The inspiration behind the campaign

The Dying to Work campaign came out the experiences of Jacci Woodcock following a diagnosis of terminal breast cancer. At a time when she most needed support, her employer responded with a formal process and threats of dismissal. Jacci’s successful battle to right this wrong shaped her activism and led to the development of the TUC’s Dying to Work Charter. Jacci has since received an MBE for her campaigning and continues to inspire union activists.

Join the movement

This is a landmark joint union campaign - one that is genuinely changing workers’ lives across the country. Nearly 6% of the working population now have the security, dignity and peace of mind of knowing they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families if faced with a terminal diagnosis.

To learn more about the campaign and see how your organisation can join over 400 others in signing the Dying to Work Charter, visit www.dyingtowork.co.uk