DRAFT
CWU REPORT OF THE
2013 TUC DISABLED WORKERS’ CONFERENCE
Introduction
The 2013 TUC Disability Workers Conference took place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd
May, at TUC, Congress House. The CWU was represented by: Linda Roy (National Equality
Officer); Elspeth Bettany, Garry Jacobs, Chic McGlynn, Tony Sneddon, Sajid Shaikh, Ted Stead,
Jeffrey Till, Julia Upton and Pauline Granstan from Research.
The Chairs of Conference were:
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Sean McGovern and Mandy Hudson on the Tuesday
Manjeet Sandhu and Tony Sneddon on the Wednesday
Motionsi
The following 20 motions plus Emergency Motion 1 were admitted to the agenda. All the
motions including Emergency Motion 1 were carried. The amendment to Motion 7 by RMT
was lost on a vote: for 84; against 85 and abstentions 3.
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Motion 1: “Recruiting Disabled People” (as amended) by UNISON
Motion 2: “Defending the welfare state and the rights of disabled people” as amended
by PCS
Motion 3: “Protection of Disability Rights” (as amended) moved by Ted Stead of the
CWU
Motion 4: “UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities” moved by Prospect
Motion 5: Universal Credit and SEN Changes” moved by ATL
Motion 6: “Changes to the Work Choices Programme” by Community
Motion 7: “Support for Disabled Workers Cooperatives” (as amended by PCS) moved by
GMB
Motion 8: “Disabled People in Parliament” moved by CSP
Motion 9: “Attendance Management” (as amended) moved by FDA
Motion 10: “Sickness Absence Management” moved by UCU
Motion 11: “Bullying in the workplace” moved by POA
Motion 12: “Keep Probation Public” moved by NAPO
Moved 13: “Access to education and sustainable employment” moved by UCU
Motion 14: “Measuring the impact of reforms on disabled workers in education” moved
by NUT
Motion 15: “Rights and entitlements of disabled children” moved by NASUWT
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Motion 16: Supporting families with disabled children” (as amended) moved by USDAW
Motion 17: “Autism in the workplace” moved by RMT
Motion 18: “Good practice in the media and third party complaints” moved by NUJ
Motion 19: Championing disabled entertainers” moved by MU
Motion 20: “Jobs for Disabled Performers” moved by Equity.
Emergency Motion 1: “Justice for Stephen Simpson” by RMT
CWU Delegates: Elspeth Bettany participated in the debate on Motion 9; Sajid Shaikh took part
in Motion 10 and Ted Stead moved motion no. 3 on behalf of the CWU.
Motion for TUC General Conference
Motion 2 as amended was selected for TUC General Conference, “Defending the welfare state
and the rights of disabled people”:
Guest Speakers
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Kay Carberry, TUC Assistant General Secretary highlighted the achievements of the
Paralympics games in London last year. She gave a synopsis of some of the coalition’s
austerity measures and the damaging effect it was having on disabled people. Kay
highlighted 5 main plans the TUC under the auspices of the new General Secretary is
working to achieve:
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A campaign for job growth and a new economy
Defending the public services and the welfare state
Promoting the idea of economic democracy and stronger voice for workers
That Britain needs stronger unions
Fair wages for all
Sean McGovern, Unite the Union
Lesley Mercer
Andy Green from Disabled People against the Cuts
Francesca Martinez entertainer
2013/2014 DISABLED WORKERS’ COMMITTEE
The following were elected to the 2013/2014 Disabled Workers Committee.
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2013/2014 DISABLED WORKERS COMMITTEE
SECTION A: 14 PLACES
SECTION A
Janine Booth
Anne Galpin
Mandy Hudson
Martin Kelly
Mark Leopard
Lesley McCallum
Robert Mooney
Patricia Roche
Kim Silver
Tony Sneddon
John Swaney
Cliff Towson
Michelle Williams
Les Woodward
RMT
NUJ
NUT
BFAWU
PCS
Unite, the Union
Community
University and College Union
UNISON
CWU
Prospect
CSP
NASUWT
GMB
SECTION B: 1 PLACE
SECTION B
Julian Allam
Unite the Union
SECTION C: 1 PLACE
SECTION C
Manjeet Sandhu
Unite, the Union
CREDENTIALS
The following credentials were registered for conference:
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26 Unions
217 Delegates
23 Visitors
12 Observers
3 Exhibitors
1 Media
RD13-05-74
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30th May 2013
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A copy of the 2013 TUC Disabled Workers Agenda together with a copy of the 2013 TUC Disabled Workers’
Conference report is available in the Research Department Library.
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