Trade Union Role in Improving Employment Opportunities for

People with Disabilities

Debra A. PerrySenior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation

East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team

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Why Trade Unions?

History and Experience• Workers’ Compensation• Social Protection• Related Issues

Philosophy• Equity• Solidarity

Community Linkages

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LINKAGES

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Workers organisaitons

Workersinjured on

the job

Disabled Peoples‘ Organi-sations

The School-System

Vocational Counselling

and Guidance

Placement

Services

Ministry of Labour and/or

Employment

Employers’

Organisa-

tions

Vocational Rehabilitation

Centres

Job Seekers

with Disabilities

Vocational Training Centres

Co-Workers

TheMedia

Convention 159 (1983)

Develop a national policy on vocational rehabilitation

Consult with employers and workers

Promote cooperation and coordination

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Recommendation 168Specific Guidance for Employers & Workers

Adopt an internal policy Contribute to national or local policy on VR Participate on boards of NGOs Cooperate with specialists to reintegrate

disabled workers Facilitate employment of other disabled persons Maintain VR services whenever possible

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Recommendation 168Specific Guidance for Workers’

Organizations

Promote participation of disabled workers on shop floor

Propose guidelines for VR and protection of disabled workers in collective agreements, regulations, arbitration awards, etc.

Offer advice on the shop floor with regard to disabled workers’ issues

Raise issues at trade union meetings Inform members through publications, seminars

etc.

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Methods of Influence 1.Organize and advocate to affect policy

2.Use collective bargaining, regulations, agreements, etc.

3. Educate and inform

4. Collaborate and form partnerships

5. Provide services and representationto disabled worker

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A Summary: What You Can

Do Nation: - Advocate for legislation and

policy. Community: - Collaborate with social partners/others.

- Promote awareness. Union: - Develop internal policies and codes of

practice.- Inform and educate members.- Provide assistance to disabled

workers/ their families.- Protect workers rights related to

disability issues. Enterprise: - Collaborate with management.

- Represent worker interests on shop floor.

- Assist disabled workers.

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Key Issues and Examples

1.Community Integration

2. Access to Training and Skill Development

3. Recruitment, Hiring, and Employment Practices

4. Special Positive Measures

5. The Rights and Integration of Injured and/or Disabled Workers

6. The Union as a Model of Inclusion

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Community Integration

Example: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)

Established the International Guiding Eyes

Provides guide dogs and training in how to use them for blind and visually impaired persons

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Community Integration

Example: Assembly of Trade Unions, Japan

• 1970s request from a member with a disabled child

• Established a foundation supported by sale of matches, later tissues

• Started a counseling service/telephone hotline for parents

• Parents lobbied for railway accessibility• Established a vocational experience

program for youth with disabilities

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Training and Skill Development

Example: Federation of German Trade Unions

Position paper stating policy for integrated employment

Supports access to apprenticeships for disabled persons, especially for women with disabilities who face double discrimination

Advocates for union activities that promote overall social integration, including accessible transportation

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Training and Skill Development

Example: Kanagawa Regional Council of the Japanese Electrical, Electronic and Information Union

Working with the city to develop an Employment Support Center to train and place mentally impaired individuals

Plans to establish a training center to teach disability awareness and sign language to union members

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Training and Skill Development

Example: Trade Union Federation, DIGNITE,Cote d’Ivoire

Created a fellowship program so students with a disabilities can attend school

Organize and facilitate vocational training and apprenticeships for school leavers with disabilities

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Recruitment, Hiring, and Employment Practices

Example: Trade Union Federation in Cote d’Ivoire

Created an internal unit for people with disabilities

Are lobbying for national employment legislation for disabled persons to include a quota, special fund, and support for microenterprise and cooperative development

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Recruitment, Hiring, and Employment Practices

Example: Screen Actors Guide (US-500 disabledmembers) and International Union of UnitedAutomobile, Aerospace and Agricultural

Implement Workers of America

Include statements on non-discrimination in collective bargaining agreements

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Recruitment, Hiring, and Employment Practices

Example: The Irish Congress of Trade Unions

Published and disseminated the Charter of Rights of People with Disabilities

Lists 18 fundamental rights to full equality of people with disabilities in the workplace

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Special Positive Measures

Example: IAM (Canada and US) and JapaneseTrade Unions

IAM uses union members as “buddies” to assist newly hired disabled workers

Japanese labour unions use on-the-job volunteers to support disabled youth in work experience programs

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Special Positive Measures

Example: IAM and AFL-CIO, United States

Work in partnership with federal government to develop training

and placement programs for workers with disabilities

Services include use of job coaches, providing advice on making

job accommodations, and use of support services

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The Rights and Reintegration

of Injured/Disabled Workers

Example: IAM Boeing Health and Safety Institute

forReturning Injured Workers to the Job

A labour-management program

Provides return to work services that include early intervention, quick responses, professional case management, job accommodations etc.

The union’s IAM CARES program provides services, which are paid by the employer according to a collective bargaining agreement

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The Rights and Reintegration

of Injured/Disabled Workers

Example: Finnish Employees’ Confederation

Cooperates with employers to prevent industrial accidents through on-the-job measures, training, ergonomic adaptation etc.

Operates training programs and reintegration schemes for injured workers

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A Model of Inclusion

Example: Unison, British trade union representing

public workers

Organizes union and vocational training programs for members with a disabilities

Uses ergonomic measures to facilitate workplace integration

Promotes awareness raising campaigns Uses member subscription and private funds

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Serve as a Model of Inclusion

Example: American Postal Workers Union

Set-up a special task force for deaf workersHolds several seminars for hearing impaired

workersMembers serve on committees to resolve

disability issuesConvinced the postal service to issue the

special “I love you” sign language stamp

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How to Begin

Get to know disabled people, especially your

disabled members Learn about legislation and policy related to

disability Talk to other social partners Reach out to organizations of and for

disabled persons Find out about what other unions have done Determine what the needs are in your

country Find support within your union and form a

committee to study the issue Develop a plan of action

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