FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Conference notes with concern the problems some disabled members encounter in attaining and/or receiving information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; especially whilst requesting information where some constraining time limits are involved. Both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will not currently send information and letters […]

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FAILURE TO MAKE REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

The Disability Discrimination Acts introduced for the first time a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. The Equality Act outlines three areas where employers and service providers must make reasonable adjustments. These are: a) Adjustments to a provision, criterion or practice; b) Adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services; and c) […]

EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM CRITICAL ILLNESS

This Conference is concerned that there is no employment protection for staff who are critically ill and at risk of being made redundant due to government cuts. Critical illness is often related to a disability and there are further complications when a disabled person has a critical illness. During this time of wide spread budget […]

FAIR REPRESENTATION FOR DISABLED MEMBERS IN UNISON

This conference is concerned about the level of discrimination currently faced by disabled people including the State Orchestrated Discrimination that this government implements against us on a daily basis. To fight this effectively we need to ensure that disabled people are represented at all levels of society including in our own union. Branches and regions […]

STOP STATE ORCHESTRATED DISCRIMINATION

Conference is concerned about the State Orchestrated Discrimination aimed at disabled people. We have fought prejudice, attitudes and institutional discrimination but none of these are as the fight we now face. This isn’t about employers or service providers discriminating. The government won’t support our fight against State Orchestrated Discrimination because they are causing it. The […]

STOP DISABILITY HATE CRIME

This Conference is concerned about the level of hate crime aimed at disabled people. Any incident which is believed by the victim to be motivated by prejudice or hate is a hate incident. All hate crimes are hate incidents but not all hate incidents are hate crimes. Although there is no legal definition of Disability […]

SICKNESS ABSENCE AND DISABLED PEOPLE

The disability discrimination act 1995 introduced a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. The Equality Act 2010 outlines 3 areas where employers and service providers must make reasonable adjustments. These are: – Adjustments to a provision, criterion or practice – Adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services – Adjustments to physical […]

FUEL POV ERTY, TAX EXCLUSION AND DISABLED DRIVERS

This Conference recognises the importance of independent mobility as a civil right for disabled people, we also regret that in the 21st Century the majority of public transport vehicles and transport infrastructure remains inaccessible to a great number of disabled people. Disabled people continue to face greater living costs associated with disability and this applies […]

RESERVED DISABLED MEMBERS’ SEATS ON UNISON’S NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

This conference is concerned that positive action measures have been afforded to members of self organised groups that have not been afforded to disabled members, in particular in the union’s advice on the scheme of branch representation and in the union’s rule book provision to address the underrepresentation of women and black members. Whilst this […]

APPRENTICESHIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Conference notes that many young people leave school with good exam results and the hope and dreams to gain full employment, more education and to expand their horizons for growth and independence. It’s well known that most disabled young people, due to lack of support during difficult times come out of education with lower grades […]

ACCESS TO DISABILITY INFORMATION ON LINE

This Conference is concerned about the lack of information on the Rights of Disabled members at work on the UNISON website. Conference therefore calls upon the National Disabled Members Committee to: 1.Work with other bodies within UNISON who update the website to: a) Produce relevant information on the rights of disabled members at work b) […]

DISABLED PEOPLE AND EMPLOYMENT

When the recession started to bite in 2008 the numbers of disabled people being made redundant was not proportionally higher than their non disabled counterparts. One possible reason for this was that a higher proportion of disabled people were employed in the public sector which was more disability friendly than the private sector. Currently twice […]

NDMC WORK PROGRAMME

This Conference is concerned that the work programme from the Disabled Members Conference does not appear to have acted upon by Branches and Regions. This Conference is also concerned about the lack of transparency regarding the work of the National Disabled Members Committee Conference therefore calls upon the NDMC to: 1.publish the work programme for […]

PUTTING DISABILITY AT THE HEART OF THE UNION’S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CUTS

Conference notes that this Tory-led Government is savagely attacking the public sector both in the funding for services it provides to service users but also to the terms and conditions of the millions of people it employs throughout the country. Massive cuts to funding are also being faced by the third sector which provides services […]

ACCESS TO WORK (ATW)

Conference notes that many disabled people are able to lead a fulfilling working life due to the physical adaptations, computer equipment and appropriate office furniture which has been partly funded by AtW. From September 2010 AtW changed their rules and now only provide funding for highly specialised equipment and support workers, therefore, employers will have […]