Injustice for disabled workers

Unite delegate Ian Lidbetter today (Tuesday, September 15) addressed TUC on disabled people and our welfare state.

“When the reality of the general election result gradually sunk in in May, many disabled people dreaded what was coming next,” said Ian.

“The coalition government, and not the Tories alone, have targeted disabled people. Benefits have been remorselessly cut,” he added.
Ian spoke about the Tories ‘fit for work’ tests and the sanctions that have devastated lives.
“People have been forced to undergo humiliating tests to ‘prove’ how disabled they are,” he said. “A mix of sanctions, so-called ‘fit for work’ tests and outright cuts to services has led to disabled people and other benefit claimants dying.”

A devastating 90 people a month are dying soon after being found fit for work.

A study by Disabled People Against Cuts and the Public Interest Research Unit found that employer attitudes towards disabled workers have deteriorated in the last four years.

The growth in precarious work has posed particular problems for disabled workers, Ian highlighted.

Unlawful discrimination, including harassment and unlawful dismissal, appears to have been increasing.

People reported a decline in organisational support for disabled workers and an increased emphasis on discipline. Disabled people are finding it harder to gain and retain paid work and yet are also facing devastating benefit cuts.

“At work, many disabled people are fearful of disclosing their disability to their employer, putting their own health and well-being in jeopardy,” said Ian.

 
“If they do have an accident it can then mean they are held responsible,” he added.

 
Unite organises disabled workers in the workplace and also organises 10,000 community members – people who for whatever reason in life are currently not in paid work.

 
“It might be because they have caring responsibilities, they are disabled and unable to work or they may be currently unemployed,” said Ian.

Ian emphasised the importance of Unite’s growing Community membership.

 
“We are working to ensure solidarity between those in, and those not in paid work,” he said.

 
“Because it can be any of us, at any time, who are subjected to the sharp experience of this government’s benefit cuts and hostile ‘scrounger’ language,” he added.

He went on to speak about his own personal experience.

 
“I count myself as being a person who has a good employer,” he said.

 
“I was disabled after a road traffic incident and my employer kept my job open while I recovered and became fit enough to return to work,” Ian added.

Later when Ian had to undergo heart surgery, again his employer kept his job open for him until he had recovered enough to return to work.

“I know that many are not as fortunate I was and this government continues to make those that did not cause the economic crisis continue to pay for it,” said Ian.

 
“Both experiences opened my eyes to the injustice of what this government was doing to disabled people and our welfare state. Conference please support this motion,” he added.