CWU REPORT OF THE 2017 TUC DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE
1. Introduction
The theme of the 2017 TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference was: “Campaigning for rights, campaigning for Equality”. The CWU was represented by: Mrs. Linda Roy (National Equality Officer), Mark Bastiani, Jonathan Bellshaw (Vice Chair, DAC), Chic McGlynn, Jacky Morrey, Tony Sneddon (Chair, DAC), Lee Starr-Elliott and Pauline Granstan (Researcher)
There were four chairs of Conference: Janine Booth, Sean McGovern, Mandy Hudson and Tony Sneddon (CWU).
2. Motions
There were 19 motions plus two emergency motions as follows:
Motion No. 1: “Disabled people, Brexit and the age of bigotry” - was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 2: “Disabled women and domestic abuse” Lee Starr-Elliott of the CWU in entering the debate raised the issue of the increasing number of men who were being abused and asked conference to include men in the work going forward. The motion was carried.
Motion No. 3: “Access to work is impossible without the social model of disability”. The motion was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 4: “Using a more than the minimum approach to disability – in support of the social model” was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 5: “Separating disability-related absence from sickness absence protects disabled workers” (as amended). Jonathan Bellshaw, CWU in supporting the motion, reminded Conference that if an individual have a long term sickness they could be sacked because of having to take time off due to their condition. He called on conference to work towards getting it legal so that disability absence is separated out from ordinary sickness absence. The motion as amended was carried.
Motion No. 6: “Supporting disabled members to access Apprenticeships” (as amended) was carried with CWU support.
Motions 7 to 8 were grouped together.
1 Motion No. 7: “More support for disabled people seeking or in work” (as amended) was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 8: “Improving support for disabled workers” was carried with CWU support.
Conference moved through the agenda faster than the order of business and as a result the Chair ruled on bringing a number of motions forward. Jonathan Bellshaw and Tony Sneddon challenged the Chair’s ruling as the proposals were not put to conference in the first place. After discussion and consultation with Conference, motions 11 & 19 were taken ahead of the section on mental health.
Motion No. 9: “DWP closures” was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 10: “Disabled Performers” (as amended) was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 11: “Parity for self-employed workers” was carried with CWU support.
Motions 12 to 17 were grouped together.
Motion No. 12: “Building a mentally healthy workplace” (as amended) was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 13: “Health & wellbeing of staff” was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 14: “Mental Health” Jonathan Bellshaw of the CWU in entering the debate spoke of the lack of understanding regarding certain aspects of mental health. However, he pointed out that there is help in place such as cognitive behaviour therapy which has assisted him when he was at a low point in his life. The motion was carried.
Motion No. 15: “Young workers and mental health” was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 16: “Improving access to mental health services” was moved by Jacky Morrey of the CWU. Jacky in moving the motion quoted statistics on mental ill health. She further stated that government austerity measures, cuts in welfare benefits, cuts in services have contributed to the increase in mental ill health. On behalf of the CWU, Jacky asked conference to carry the motion so that more work can be done on education the general public and trade unionists on mental health issues. The motion was carried.
Motion No. 17: “Hidden Disability Rights” (as amended) Lee Starr-Elliott of the CWU took part in the debate by highlighting his own hidden disability (deafness) and the discrimination he faced. The motion was carried.
Motion No. 18: “Driver only operation train services” was carried with CWU support.
Motion No. 19: “Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs are working dogs” was carried with CWU support.
2 Emergency Motion No. 1: “Accessibility of venue for the Disabled Worker’s Conference” was carried unanimously.
Emergency Motion No. 2: “Disabled Refugees” was carried with CWU support.
3. Motion to TUC General Congress
The following motion was chosen to go to the 2017 TUC General Congress:
Emergency Motion No. 1: “Accessibility of venue for the Disabled Worker’s Conference”
4. Informal Session on supporting workers experiencing mental ill-health
The informal session included members of the Professional Football Association (PFA) and members of the NUT.
Michael Bennett, PFA: Highlighted that people often saw the physical fitness of footballers but what they often didn’t see was some of the mental issues they had to deal with. In the 1980s, at the height of his career, there was no one around to talk to about mental issues. After leaving professional football he took a counselling course so that he could try to help and support members of the PFA who had mental health conditions. As a result, today there is a network of counsellors available 24/7. All PFA members have access to this service.
Jason Brown, PFA: Spoke of his low self-esteem and lack of identity even at a time when he did well professionally. He was eventually given help when Michael Bennett mentored him and he in turn wants to do something to help others in a similar position to where he was.
CWU Lee Starr-Elliott asked whether there are any systems in place to help young people.
5. Speakers
The following were some of the guest speakers at conference:
Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary, TUC
Mary Bousted, President of the TUC. Ms Bousted reminded conference that in three weeks’ time we would be having a general election. She choose to use the story of the angry woman who berated Theresa May, Prime Minister (PM) over cuts to disability benefits. Kathy Moran, the disabled person told 3 the Prime Minister she wanted “…her disability allowance to come back… I can’t live on a £100 per month. They just took it all away from me”. The President said that Theresa May was not interested in the disabled and Mary also said that the PM was using Brexit to launch an attack on workers’ rights.
Aileen Gallagher, Unite member and young workers activist
6. TUC Disabled Committee statement on forthcoming General Election
The Committee read out a statement covering broadly 10 topics which they believe gives delegates an opportunity to consider when making their choice at the ballot box on 8th June. The statement is attached at the end of this document.
7. TUC Disabled Workers Committee 2017/2018
The following were elected to the 2017/2018 TUC Disabled Workers Committee
SECTION A SECTION B
CANDIDATE UNION CANDIDATE UNION REPRESENTED REPRESENTED
Dave Allan Unite, the Julian Allam Unite, the Union Union Amy Bishop Prospect Janine Booth RMT SECTION C Lynda Carter USDAW Phoebe Kemp Equity Malcolm Day UCU Ann Galpin NUJ SECTION D Carl Lewthwaite GMB Marsha de Cordva Unite, the Union Mark Leopard PCS Paul Meekin POA Robert Mooney Community Lara Morris NASUWT Tony Sneddon CWU Sian Stockham UNISON Mandy Hudson NUT
8. Vote of Thanks
The customary vote of thanks was given after which the following credentials were acknowledged: 4 23 Unions registered 191 delegates 20 visitors 9 observers 6 exhibitions 2 media
Conference closed at approximately 3.30 p.m.
10.05.17 JC RS.pdf Report RS JC EMOT 1.pdf EMOT 2.pdf HM.docx.pdf
Adobe Acrobat Document
RD17-05-87 22nd May 2017
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