Equalities Commission*

This Conference notes with concern the Government’s proposal to merge the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality into one Equalities Commission. We believe this would be detrimental to the interests of disabled people. The DRC was formed in 2000 and it has already made significant progress against […]

Equal Access to UNISON Material for Members with Disabilities*

This Disabled Members’ Conference is concerned that UNISON’s literature and application forms are not readily available in alternative formats. As a trade organisation UNISON is expected under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to provide a service to members with disabilities that is equal to that for members without disabilities. The DDA came into effect in […]

Single Equality Commission*

This Conference has very grave reservations on the Labour Government’s proposed project to consider ways of setting up a single Equality Commission. Conference is concerned that UNISON disabled members and disabled people in general would suffer and lose out if serviced by such a single Equality Commission. This Conference calls upon the National Disabled Members’ […]

Cochlear Implants

UNISON’s policy has long established the union’s support for the Social Model of Disability. The National Disabled Members Committee (NDMC) has been instrumental in advising the Union about how to promote the rehabilitation of the environment and eliminate other barriers that deny disabled people civil rights rather than promote the rehabilitation of the disabled person […]

The Social Model of Disability

This Conference expresses its deep concern that the Social Model of Disability has been publicly criticised by Disability Rights Commissioner, Colin Low, who claimed that it contains important “truths” but also a significant amount of falsehood that “distorts reality in ways which are potentially damaging to disabled people”. Conference notes that over the past three […]