trade union role in improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities debra a. perry...
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Trade Union Role in Improving Employment Opportunities for
People with Disabilities
Debra A. PerrySenior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation
East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
TU-1
Why Trade Unions?
History and Experience• Workers’ Compensation• Social Protection• Related Issues
Philosophy• Equity• Solidarity
Community Linkages
TU-2
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
TU-4
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
TU-5
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
TU-11
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
TU-23
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
TU-24