- Conference
- 2020 Higher Education Service Group Conference
- Date
- 26 September 2019
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that although Higher Education institutions often pride themselves on the services they offer to disabled students, when it comes to their disabled staff it can sometimes be a different story.
Many of our disabled members in Higher Education find that they struggle to access reasonable adjustments. In some cases the employer agrees to adjustments but then drag their feet about implementing them. Our members can wait months or even years to get the adjustments they need to allow them to do their jobs.
In some cases the employer uses the sickness absence procedure against disabled staff when a period of disability leave is more appropriate. Disabled staff can find themselves faced with capability proceedings and the potential loss of their job when workplace modifications could have averted this.
Conference notes that some Higher Education branches have been successful in negotiating reasonable adjustment and disability leave policies with their employer. Others have agreed mental health policies. These branches are congratulated for their commitment to our disabled members.
Conference notes that UNISON has a wealth of bargaining guides and advice for branches and stewards that can be used in Higher Education branches to support our disabled members. UNISON resources include:
A)Reasonable Adjustments Bargaining Guide, which includes a model policy and “passport”
B)Disability Leave Bargaining Guide which also includes a model policy
C)“Proving Disability and Reasonable Adjustment, a comprehensive guide to which includes a directory of impairments and examples of reasonable adjustments
D)Bargaining for Mental Health Policies Guide
E)“Quick Guides” to Reasonable Adjustments and to Access to Work.
All of the above are on the Disabled Members page of the UNISON website.
Conference therefore calls on the Higher Education Service Group Executive to work with the national Disabled Members Committee to:
1)Circulate UNISON’s resources, including the new reasonable adjustment bargaining guide, model policy and passport to Higher Education branches and encourage them to seek to negotiate such policies with their employers.
2)Seek and publicise examples of best practice where Higher Education branches have agreed such policies.
3)Seek to include these issues in national bargaining where appropriate.