Disabled members look to the legacy of 2022

The first plenary sessions of UNISON’s annual disabled members conference took place this morning, with the cost of living and securing a legacy for the unions’ Year of the Disabled Worker dominating proceedings. But it also saw member Paddy Toner presented with his award as this year’s winner of the union’s Local Service Champions Awards by general secretary Christina McAnea (pictured above). Mr Toner is a rehabilitation worker for the visually impaired at Halton Borough Council. He himself is registered blind. He was nominated by Helen Illidge, his support worker, who accompanied him to the conference. Watch a video about Mr Toner here and read an article here. In the morning’s debates. speaking for the national disabled members’ committee, Tony Slaven explained that he’d spent this year touring a presentation around: 2022, The Year of the Disabled Worker, from Lanarkshire to Westminster – Lanarkshire, because that’s where the idea originated. He noted that the year had highlighted the value that disabled workers bring to the workplace and the union and had promoted the need for disabled members to “take control” against a background of a government that not only overlooks or ignores disabled workers, but “deliberately discriminates against” them. Of the year’s work he stressed: “It cannot stop on the 31 December … it has to be embedded in the union.” Lisa Dempsey from the North West noted that: “Disability is not a dirty word. “W...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News 2022 National Disabled Members Conference Local Service Champions Awards Source Type: news