- Conference
- 2004 Energy Service Group Conference
- Date
- 27 February 2004
- Decision
- Carried
This Energy Conference applauds the work undertaken by UNISON’s National Disabled Members Committee to promote negotiated agreements that make provision for Disability Leave. However, we are concerned that there is no adequate legislative provision to compel Energy employers to disregard disability- related absence and the consequence of this in relation to sickness absence procedures.
There is evidence from some branches that employers are taking punitive action against Disabled workers for absence related to disability. There is concern amongst Disabled members in Energy that such punitive actions may have a significant effect on workers income because bonus payments have been withheld in respect of attendance, targets and capability have been constructed without regard to Disabled workers access needs.
Some UNISON branches have managed to secure new rights for Disabled members by negotiating a separate category of leave called Disability Leave. Records are kept separate from sick leave which logs leave associated with a person’s disability. Disability leave should never have a maximum entitlement. Instead it should always be assessed in terms of what is reasonable and appropriate for the individual.
This Conference instructs the Energy Service Group to seek information about negotiated agreements for Disability Leave agreements and evidence of punitive actions being taken by employers in order that guidance can be issued to branches so that they can enter into negotiations to end disability discrimination in the Energy Sector. This Conference instructs the Energy Service Group Executive to produce the branch guidance in liaison with UNISON’s National Disabled Members Committee.