- Conference
- 2021 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 9 July 2021
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference is concerned that 60% of all people who have died from COVID were disabled and nearly half a million people have had long COVID for over a year, yet the government have not issued any guidance on supporting disabled people at risk of COVID once restrictions have ended.
So called Freedom Day could almost have been termed as Imprisonment Day for some Disabled Members who were left feeling more vulnerable than ever as the government removed all legislation relating to COVID secure workplaces, transport and public places.
Conference, long COVID can be a debilitating condition that can cause chronic fatigue, breathing problems, anxiety, depression, brain fog, muscle weakness and severe pain, which can impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Yet so far there has been no recognition from government that long COVID could in some cases be classed as a disability.
When restrictions ended so did the requirement for employers to make workplaces COVID secure and the government withdrew work at home rules leaving Disabled Members with no legal route to challenge employers who insist they return to unsafe workplaces.
The failure to continue to enforce the use of face coverings on public transport, in shops and in other service settings has left Disabled Members feeling increasingly vulnerable and at risk of contracting the virus. Many have resorted to staying at home and almost a return to shielding.
While Test and Trace had many faults it could at least inform people if they had visited a place where someone had tested positive, but by scrapping the requirement to check into venues the government has eliminated even the most basic functionality of the app.
Conference COVID has not disappeared. It is not something Disabled Members can simply learn to live with if there are no protections in place. Leaving decisions to employers, service providers and the wider public does not provide any reassurance to Disabled Members who are feeling increasing vulnerable.
Conference is calling on National Disabled Members Committee to work with the National Executive Committee, Service Group Executives, Labour Link, the TUC and other bodies they believe appropriate to:
1. Campaign for long COVID to be recognised as a disability.
2. Write to the Prime Minister and other appropriate government Ministers to lobby for the introduction of statutory guidance to ensure workplaces, public transport and other public places are COVID secure including recognising the need for COVID related reasonable adjustments.
3. Produce guidance for Branches to use when negotiating COVID secure workplaces and COVID policies including specific reference to the issues faced by Disabled Members and Members with long COVID.