Disabled trade unionists have warned that they will hold Labour to account on the promises it makes to improve the rights of disabled workers, if the party wins power at July’s general election.
They have also called for activists to exert pressure on Labour during the election campaign to persuade it to expand its existing pledges on disability employment.
And they called on the party to include in its general election manifesto all the measures in the Disability Employment Charter, which aims to address the widespread disadvantage disabled people face in their working lives.
The charter was founded by organisations including Disability Rights UK, the public services union UNISON and the Disability@Work group of academics, who have played a significant role in raising evidenced concerns about the Conservative government’s policies on disability employment.
Lola Oyewusi, a UNISON delegate, told the TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference in Liverpool: “To win for disabled workers is very paramount to the success of a Labour government.
“If Labour does not deliver for disabled workers, we will definitely hold them to account.”
And she warned Vicky Foxcroft, Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, who had spoken at the conference the previous day, that – if she becomes minister for disabled people – “we will surely make sure she delivers”.
Anong the policies described by Foxcroft in her speech – many of which are in the charter – was a pledge to force larger employers to report on their disability pay gaps; reform of the Access to Work scheme; action to make it easier for disabled workers to secure reasonable adjustments; and reform of the government’s much-criticised Disability Confident scheme.
Lee Starr-Elliott, a delegate from the Communication Workers Union, told the conference: “It is now imperative that we rid ourselves of the Tories.
“However, it’s just as important that the Labour party is held to account and do not repeat or continue the mistakes that the current government are making.”
He added: “Attacks on Deaf and disabled people and workers must be stopped, and we need a Labour party that embraces and works with disabled people and groups to make the change for the better.
“Access to Work, disability benefits and many other programmes must be fixed, and the rights of disabled people and workers must be strengthened, especially in employment, where we are seeing the biggest number of attacks from both the employer and the DWP.
“Labour must also be held to account and commit to being a leading figure in disability issues, both nationally and internally.”
Philip Blundell, a Unite delegate, called on the Labour party to stand with the union movement.
But he added: “Don’t do it and you’re part of the enemy and we will come for you.”
He told delegates: “Go back to your workplaces, ask people to vote Labour, then we’ll hold them to account.
“And if they don’t bring in, within the first 100 days, what they said they were going to do, we will hold them to account. We will march.”
Alison Gaughan, from the University and College Union, told fellow delegates: “I want to see the back of the Tories as much as anybody.
“However, I’m sceptical about how much will change when Labour come to power.
“I welcome the promises that we’ve heard from Labour. I hope they will come to pass, but I’m not holding my breath.”
She added: “We know that we live in a system where if the needs of disabled people come up against the interests of capital, capital will win.
“We shouldn’t forget that the Labour party has committed to the same economic rules as the Tories adhere to.
“Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has repeatedly emphasised her commitment to so-called fiscal responsibility, and she cosies up to business leaders.
“The TUC must hold Labour to all their promises on disability, and more.
“We want full equality for disabled people and a full commitment to the Disability Employment Charter and the UNCRPD*.”
Ian Thomas, from the PCS union, pointed out that only two of the unions represented at the conference had signed up to the charter themselves, despite 187 organisations backing it.
He said: “If we all… go back to our own unions and say, ‘Why haven’t you signed it yet?’ that action alone would really boost the visible sign that we as trade unions are signed up to the Disability Employment Charter, that we want to see a workplace where disability employment rights are recognised by the employers that we are negotiating with.”
Dougie Johnstone, a delegate from the bakers’ union BFAWU, told the conference that although he was looking forward to “getting rid” of the Conservatives, he also had “some concerns” about the Labour party.
He pleaded with Labour to ignore the “nice headlines you’ll get in the Tory rags” and “be the party that says, ‘I will stand up for everyone.’”
The motion was passed with only a handful of abstentions.
*UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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