Discrimination against disabled workers continues, and RMT is organising to oppose it
Autism in the Workplace is a really exciting event being run at the Workers’ Educational Association - WEA - on 25 March 2015, 9.30am–4.30pm. It is sponsored by the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) and includes participation from Simpson Millar solicitors.
Please read on for details of the course and to register for a place.
UPDATE ON PREVIOUS ISSUES
Autism in the Workplace is a really exciting regular course being run at the Workers’ Educational Association.
The next course will be on 27th January 2015.
To find out more about the course and to register please go to course tutor Janine Booth's website here.
The TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee elected two co-Chairs for 2014/15: Sean McGovern and Janine Booth.
Disabled Workers’ Conference 2014 - Resolutions
We looked at all the resolutions passed by Disabled Workers’ Conference in May. A document containing these resolutions will (eventually) be posted on the TUC website – until then, email me j.booth@rmt.org.uk if you would like me to send it to you.
Here’s a summary of what we are doing on each:
1. Zero hours contracts and disabled workers
This is the speech I gave to TUC Disabled Workers' Conference on 28 May.
Many of you will have your own experiences of both the freedom provided by public transport and the difficulty using it – be that the railway, buses, shipping, air travel, trams, riverboats, taxis, or other modes of transport.
Let’s look at some statistics and facts – mainly about the railways.
In a 2013 survey of disabled people, nearly 80% used the railways, half of them at least monthly, often weekly or more.
Transport For All, an organisation which champions the cause of accessible transport in the capital, has voiced serious concerns about London Underground's cuts plan.
The organisation of disabled and older people said of the plans to shut all ticket offices and cut nearly a thousand workers:
RMT rep Janine Booth has written a guide to autism in the workplace for the TUC - their first ever guide on this subject.
Autism is a term covering a wide range of conditions that reflect neurological differences among people. It can cause social barriers which may affect the lives of people with autism at work. There are about 332,600 people of working age in the UK with autism. However, only 15 per cent of adults with autism are in full-time employment and only 9 per cent are in part-time work.
Fit For the Future – Stations will hit every stations worker with pay cuts, displacements, reduced work-life balance, etc. But its proposals will affect women, black and ethnic minority, LGBT, older, younger and disabled people in specific ways.
LU is obliged by law to assess what the impact on equalities groups will be. But LU has carried out a shabby and inadequate assessment. RMT and other unions’ reps have met LU about these issues in the last few weeks; management has revealed that it does not treat its obligation towards equalities groups seriously.
A group of union reps are examining the impact of London Underground Ltd’s proposals for Fit for the Future – Stations on equality groups including women members, black and ethnic minority members, lesbian/gay/bi/trans members, disabled members, older members (55+) and younger members (under 30).
The Trade Union Congress have updated their briefing document, 'Trade unions and disabled people fighting austerity' to take into account of recent court rulings.
The document is aimed at union officials and activists, to give you the key facts and to encourage you to ensure disabled people's inclusion in the union’s work and campaigns.
Introduction: resisting a relentless attack