- Conference
- 2018 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 5 July 2018
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
The two legal frameworks that are supposed to ensure reasonable access to employment, shops, business, services and public buildings, for those with disabilities, are-
• The Equality ACT 2010
• The Building Regulations (2004 edition, incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments) Approved Document M
This Conference is aware that this legislation is not allowing us the access we should be able to have.
This Conference passed a motion in 2008 drawing attention to the unsatisfactory nature of the then legislation, describing the situation as ‘inadequate’. Despite some minor legal changes, we know that the current legislation is still inadequate.
Members have ‘day to day’ experience of being unable to access some buildings, shops, workplaces and public buildings and additionally are unable to access feature within those buildings such as lifts, sanitary facilities, eating/ drinking areas to name but a few -facilities we should be able to access.
Conference notes that the interim report of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety carried out in the wake of the Grenfell fire found that the whole building regulation system is not fit for purpose.”
“The tragedy of Grenfell, where there were reports of a lack of evacuation routes for disabled tenants, has highlighted how important this issue is. Disabled people not only need to be able to access buildings, but they also have the legal right to be able to exit them safely, such as in a fire.
This Conference calls upon the National Disabled Members Committee to:-
1. Investigate this issue and bring a report to a 2019 Conference, suggesting ways in which this matter can be addressed.
2. Support appropriate campaigns seeking to improve fire safety for disabled people and to strengthen oversight and enforcement of Building Regulations and the Equality Act
3. Raise this issue with the TUC’s Disabled Members Committee to seek additional support.
4. Seek support within Labour Link to raise this issue.
5.Seek examples from members by raising the issue within UNISON publications.