In her keynote speech to UNISON’s annual disabled members’ conference in Liverpool today (Sunday), the union’s general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The harsh austerity policies of successive Conservative governments had a devastating impact on disabled people across the country.
“Not only did their spending cuts hit the essential services so many rely upon. Tory ministers also tried to portray disabled people as undeserving: wilfully avoiding employment and defrauding the system. That led to an increase in hostility towards disabled people, which was unforgiveable.
“Then a Labour government with a big majority, and an opportunity to rebuild our country, was elected. With promises to make changes that would improve the lives of working people, expectations were high.
“But it’s not panning out as we hoped. A reset is urgently needed. Ministers must stop trying to out-reform Reform and get back to doing what a Labour government should be doing – improving the lives of working people, rebuilding public services and pushing for a more equal society.
“There are good things the government is doing, but voters could be forgiven for not knowing much about them. Take the employment rights bill. This is a game-changer for working people, especially disabled workers. But you hardly hear a peep about it.
“Insecure work has blighted the lives of too many people for years. And when the bill becomes law, employers will need to up their game.
“There’s so much in the bill. It will end exploitative zero-hours contracts, give workers and unions more rights and will give sick pay from the first day someone is ill, which is so important for disabled workers.
“Bad employers don’t like it, lobbying furiously behind the scenes to try to get it watered down. The Tories, Lib Dems and Reform have all consistently voted against employment rights improvements in Parliament.
“When it looked like those opposing the bill might be winning, I spoke out and warned of the consequences if ministers gave in. We’ve had assurances the bill will be implemented in full. And we’ll be watching closely to make sure this happens.
“The union’s worked hard to ensure the incoming government committed to improving the rights of disabled workers, and now we have the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.
“This will require employers to report disability pay gaps making it easier for disabled workers to bring unequal pay claims. But reporting on its own won’t make a difference. This needs to be followed up with real action plans to address inequality.
“And let’s be honest, some of the decisions taken are not what we expected or hoped for from a Labour government. Attacks on winter fuel, the threat of outsourcing in the NHS (that UNISON stopped), and of course the plans to cut welfare.
“We’ll always call ministers out when they get things wrong, but it’s on the topic of welfare reform we all feel most let down. The cuts proposed were badly thought-out and would have had a devastating impact on disabled people.
“Three quarters of our members claiming the personal independent payment (PIP) said losing it would affect their ability to work. It was almost as though the government and officials hadn’t realised that PIP predominately affects people in work.
“A system that makes people less able to work or forces them into poverty isn’t just unacceptable, it makes no sense whatsoever.
“Following a successful lobbying campaign by UNISON and a threatened rebellion by Labour MPs, we got concessions. And there will now be a review led by Sir Stephen Timms, but there must be input from unions to this.
“Disabled members’ issues are everyone’s issues. We all need decent public services and that means fair funding for them and for staff pay.
“My advice for Rachel Reeves in the run up to the budget is to bring in a wealth tax.
“If your income comes from your earnings, you pay tax on that. But if your income comes from owning property, from dividends, or stocks and shares, you pay less tax. That’s simply wrong.
“There must be an overhaul of the tax system so there can be proper investment in the NHS, in care, in local councils, and in the services every disabled person relies upon.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON’s national disabled members’ conference began yesterday at Liverpool’s ICC and continues today.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
The article Ministers must return to core Labour principles of equality, improving lives and boosting public services first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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