It is over twenty years since a group of disabled trade unionist activists met on the outskirts of Walsall in the West Midlands to establish the Trade Union Disability Alliance. As I recall there were five or six unions represented among the delegates; all of whom had been busily working away in their own union branches and disability committees to either put ‘disability equality’ on the agenda or to encourage their unions to work from a social model perspective. TUDA therefore was set up to support disabled people in the workplace and union activists to spread the message through the trade union movement.
It was through the work of TUDA members in MSF and Unison that the TUC passed at its Congress at motion for comprehesive anti-discrimination legislation for disabled people. At the same time they pestered their own union leadership to put pressure on the TUC to set up a Disability Forum and have an annual conference for disabled trade unionists. This was a uphill struggle; whilst not hostile to disabled people, few in the TUC leadership had any understanding of the issues facing people who were a small minority in the workforce and an even smaller number inside the unions.
At lot of water has flown under the bridge since then, most unions now have disability committees and the TUC has finally entrusted disabled people to run their own forum. Nevertheless many disabled people still see the trade union movement as rather paternalistic in its approach to disability equality – often more charity model than social model. It is the same with the TUC which has often been compared to an oil tanker – very slow to turn! The decline of the Disabled People’s Movement had an impact upon TUDA’s membership and their influence in the unions and the TUC.
It was against this backdrop that DPAC feared the worse when little or information was coming out about the access needs of disabled people wanting to attend the TUC 26th March march. Then we were informed coaches were being parked up on the outskirts of London and trains were already being pre-booked. A letter was send by DPAC voicing our concerns to the TUC’s General Secretary and contact was made with others inside the TUC in an attempt to seek clarification. After banging away at the need to include disabled people, DPAC were in contact with an equality officer, then one of the organisers of the March; finally, we were told that the Chair of the TUC’s Disability Forum was making his members’ views known. Slowly, the information DPAC was seeking was released upon a TUC, however we remained concerned about the lack of “inclusivity” with regards to aspects of the organising and said so.
Many of us who have experience of organisations know how defensive they can become if they feel unduly criticised or fail to understand why people remain unhappy with what they are doing. For awhile some within the TUC felt disabled people were complaining just for the sake of it or had not considered how complex a task it is organising such a large event. DPAC from the outset sought to assist rather than simply carp; we want the 26th to be a success and to ensure disabled people can have their voices added to those who will be out of the streets that day. Fortunately, one of the co-founders of DPAC has managed to open up a dialogue with the Chair of the TUC’s Disability Forum which has helped to put things into perspective
After years of campaigning I know change rarely takes place over night and many large insitutions need a great deal of support and encourage in order to “do the right thing”. Living day after day with the impact of social oppression isn’t easy either. Many activists get bruised and brittle, suspecting the worst rather than expecting progress. I believe the last few weeks has asked many questions of both disabled and non-disabled people involved in resisting the cuts. Perhaps if we can learn the lessons from our experiences this will strengthen our ability to take on the real enemy – the Coalition Government!
–Bob Williams-Findlay
Thanks for this interesting article. 2 questions:
1. Does the Trade Union Disability Alliance still exist? Their website is advertising the 2019 AGM and the last newsletter available for download from their website is dated September 2015
2. Over the next few months I will be undertaking a mini Research Project for my TUC Diploma in Contemporary Trade Union Studies. I would like to look into and research about both the history of, and the current involvement of deaf and hard of hearing people in trade unions as well as any collective work by deaf and hard of hearing people to improve their working conditions and employment rights. If anyone can suggest where I should look for this information with any links and/or contact details then please let me know.
Many thanks
Kevin Daws