Discrimination against disabled workers continues, and RMT is organising to oppose it
Equal Rights Sub-committee Report
We welcomed Lee Rundle (National Executive member for the South West region) to the meeting. Lee told us about his experiences as a dyslexic member, as well as reporting on the National Executive's decisions on our resolutions from our meeting in November, which were:
London Underground Ltd claims that the red 'Here to Help' tabards make staff more visible to passengers, especially to visually-impaired passengers. RMT argues that the only effective way to make staff more visible is to employ more staff.
This plan was agreed unanimously by the Disabled Members’ Advisory Committee meeting, 28 January 2019, and will be considered by the union's National Executive in March.
‘Know Your Rights’ Campaign
We would like to run a campaign to advise disabled transport workers of their rights. This will encourage recruitment and active involvement in the union, and would include:
Please find attached some useful information regarding mental health and disability within the workplace. There is also an extremely useful 'Passport for Re-Adjustments,' and guidance of how this can be used.
Updates
This resolution was submitted by Bakerloo branch and passed unanimously by RMT Disabled Members' Advisory Committee on 12 November.
We note that:
This is the draft plan of activities for RMT's Disabled Members' Advisory Committee for 2019. The Committee will discuss it further at its meeting in January.
‘Know Your Rights’ Campaign
RMT London Transport region is running a week-long training course for representatives and activists on Disability in the Workplace from Monday 1 until Friday 5 October in London. With our employers and workplaces presenting many barriers to disabled workers, members are increasingly calling on representatives to help them get adjustments, reasonable treatment, and even to stay in work. Union reps want and need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills not just to represent individuals but to campaign for more accessible and equal workplaces.