This Conference notes that many disabled people are unemployed and find it difficult to obtain work. Some employers, particularly those in the Private Sector, see disabled people as an ‘expensive’ choice due to the need for access arrangements. The current economic climate means that it is now even more likely that employers will not take […]
Conference motions
Transport by taxi is a lifeline to many of our members who require the convenience and necessity of this form of getting from A to B. However, on numerous occasions this aspect of travel is marred by the attitude and behaviour of the driver particularly where drivers refuse to allow working dogs to accompany disabled […]
Typetalk is a requirement for many of our deaf/hearing impaired and speech impaired members, as it gives them the opportunity to have more indepth and professional phone discussions with colleagues that texting on mobile phones does not. Typetalk is a service operated by RNID through a BT landline involving a Minicom user, a standard phone […]
This Conference requests the National Disabled Members Committee to liaise with the Conference department to ensure that hotels are asked to comply with their DDA Goods, services, and facilities duties and provide an access audit at no cost to the union. We further request that audited conference venues and recommended hotels are circulated with the […]
In recent years disabled people have benefited from changes in law, which has meant – in some instances – that employment has been easier to obtain and maintain, because of the requirement to make reasonable adjustments. However, we are concerned that due to a lack of appropriate training information and support, the Disability Discrimination Act, […]
Part M of Schedule 1 of The Building Regulations 1991 as amended by the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulation 1998 deals with access and facilities for disabled people. Conference notes that Section M is limited to: a)Reasonable provision for disabled people to gain access to and to use the building b)Reasonable provision of sanitary facilities in […]
Conference welcomes the UNISON Equality Duty, because equality for members is at the heart of what we do. Conference believes that the UNISON Equality Duty cannot be fully effective without the appropriate training being made available for all branch activists and all other interested UNISON members. Conference believes that training is a valuable tool for […]
This conference applauds the negotiations that UNISON has been involved in through the TUC to secure employment protection for agency workers who are employed for 12 weeks with the same employer. However, we are concerned that disabled agency workers may face particular disadvantage: Agencies may perpetuate institutional disability discrimination by not offering temporary positions for […]
This Conference believes disabled people encounter particular disadvantage in the workforce and therefore propose that the post of Disabled Members Officer should be included in the Rule Book, to work specifically on behalf of disabled members, this post should be occupied by a disabled person. We therefore call for Rule G.4.1.1 to be amended as […]
This Conference notes that many disabled people receive funding from Access to Work (ATW) to employ a support worker or reader. This means that the person in receipt of ATW has the same legal responsibilities as all employers, such as having in place grievance and disciplinary policies/procedures, providing an employment contract, sorting out tax and […]
Conference welcomes the decision to develop a UNISON Equality Scheme covering every function of UNISON – recruitment and organising, negotiating and representing members, campaigning and promoting UNISON, and UNISON’s internal functions as an employer and service provider. UNISON is rightly proud of its leading profile in the field of equalities and its provision of a […]
This conference has previously welcomed the Disability Equality Duty placed on employers in December 2006. In particular, the general duty includes some powerful statements on the need for public sector employers and employers with public functions to: ·promote equality of opportunity between disabled persons and other persons ·promote positive attitudes towards disabled people ·encourage participation […]
Disability Leave is an important agenda for the majority of our disabled members, as without this, through no fault of their own, they are subject to the timebound sickness procedures operated within organisations. We thank the National Disabled SOG Committee for the work that has been undertaken in compiling and distributing the Disability Policy Guidelines […]
Conference notes with concern the number of health issues that affect disabled women, in light of closures, cuts and the implementation of new legislation. Conference recognises that disabled LGBT women have further issues for example, around the recognition of their same sex partners as next-of-kin, sexual health issues being overlooked and sometimes homophobic attitudes in […]
Conference agrees that since the Disability Equality Duty was placed upon public sector employers in December 2006, in many cases the application has been more wishful than realistic. We fear that public sector employers would rather pay lip service to the duty than actually deliver. Conference having already affirmed in 2005 its support for local […]