Emergency Service Collaboration – PCSO/Fire Fighters

Conference we are concerned about the proposals for PCSO’s (Police Community Support Officers) being encouraged to become retained firefighters. Discussions are taking place between the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) and one of our District Commanders. It is proposed the use of volunteer/retained firefighters be trialled with PCSO’s within the districts of Braintree […]

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Claims

This conference agrees that 6 months or longer is too long to wait for the outcome of a PIP assessment. This has caused tragic incidents and severe hardship to families. We call on the National Disabled Members Committee to work with Labour Link and relevant organisations to: 1)lobby the Government to implement a maximum timescale […]

Disabled People’s Manifesto

Conference the general election will be held on 7 May 2015. This is the first time we have known so far in advance the exact date of the general election and this gives us the opportunity to campaign for disabled peoples issues to be central to all election campaigns. When the Police and Crime Commissioner […]

Communicate, Communicate, Recruit

Conference, when gathering UNISON leaflets, information and publications for a disabled members event or stand, looking through UNISON publications there is little or none. We are asking the National Disabled Members Committee to look at producing bespoke materials related to Disabled Members issues to be able to use at all levels of the union for […]

Overcoming the Barriers

Conference, Disabled workers often have to overcome more barriers to be able to manage daily life and to hold down a job. The Coalition Government has taken away our support mechanisms to be able maintain and manage ‘normal day to day activities’ including employment. Conference, we instruct that in 2015 the National Disabled Members Committee […]

Disability Hate Crimes

Conference condemns the continuing rise in hate crimes against disabled people in Northern Ireland. In 2011 more than 2,000 such offences were recorded here – up a third on 2010. Research by shows that nine out of 10 people with a learning disability had been a victim. Victims of disability hate crime continue to be […]

Disabled Women and Food banks

Conference is concerned to hear that disabled people many disabled women hit by changes to the benefits system are having to rely on food banks, a survey of nearly 4000 disabled people carried out by the Disability Benefits Consortium reveals that of those hit by changes to housing benefit – such as the bedroom tax […]

Enough is Enough – Earn my Vote

This Conference has grave concerns about the impact of this government’s policies on disabled peopleand we agree that as disabled activists in this union we need to send this strong message out to all political parties in the run up to next year’s election that enough is enough. Conference notes with concern the impact of […]

Black people and Disability – The impact of Welfare reform and benefit cuts

Many disabled workers are reliant on benefits even though they are working. Conference condemns the Coalitions Governments Welfare Reforms and the resulting adverse impact of the policies on our members, especially our Black disabled members and their communities. Many of our disabled Black members are low-paid and due to poverty wages, pay freezes and unwavering […]

Disabled Women and Access to Work

Conference is concerned to learn that disabled people are being expected to take considerable responsibility for part funding the cost of their reasonable adjustments that have been approved by and provided through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Access to Work Scheme (ATW). Self funding has an immediate and devastating impact on future work […]

Black People and Mental Health

Conference notes with concern the findings of the 2005 “Count Me In” census in England and the following censuses that people from Black Caribbean, Black African and other Black backgrounds are over represented in psychiatric care. Indeed, in May 2013, Health Minister Norman Lamb said in the House of Commons that “something [was] wrong” with […]

What we want from a Labour Government

Conference will note that the austerity measures introduced by the ConDem government have had a disproportionate effect on disabled people. Benefits have been slashed and the work capability assessor has treated disabled people with callousness and inhumanity. Therefore the removal of the ConDem government has to be a priority for disabled people in the next […]

Disabled members taking a lead on recruitment

Conference will note that recruitment of new members is a priority for our union and one which we all need to proactively engage in. However conference will note that recruitment campaigns do not automatically ask activists with disabilities to take a lead on recruitment nor do these campaigns specifically target workers with disabilities. Conference will […]

GOVERNMENT WELFARE REFORMS AND CREDIT UNIONS

We condemn the Government’s Welfare Reforms and the resulting impact of the policies on our members. Many members are reliant on welfare due to poverty wages, pay freezes and cuts to their terms and conditions. This has driven many into the arms of loan sharks and payday loan companies. Millions of disabled workers are reliant […]

Fair Representation for Disabled Members in UNISON

This conference is concerned about the level of discrimination currently faced by disabled people. Cuts to public services, welfare reform, changes to health and social care, reductions in disabled students allowances and bedroom tax have all targeted disabled people. To fight this campaign against disabled people disabled people need to be politically and societally active. […]