Government cuts target the disabled
6th November 2012
General Secretary Billy Hayes
attacked the way in which the government had targeted cuts at the
disabled and those least able to cope in his address to the
Disability Conference in Leeds over the weekend.
Billy told of care budgets being slashed while the costs of
essentials like food, energy and transport rose and accused the
government of putting 500,000 people into hardship by scrapping the
disability living allowance.
"The Coalition Government is using the economic crisis as an
excuse for breaking up the welfare state," said Billy.
Defending the Remploy factories, Billy argued that shutting the
factories and throwing the workers on the scrap heap was the worst
solution.
The general secretary praised Ed Miliband's speech on mental
health, going on to call for "mental health issues to be given
the same status as physical health."
On the question of getting more people involved in union
activities, Billy highlighted the need to hold meetings in venues
with access for disabled people.
L-R: Tony Sneddon, Linda Roy and Beryl Shepherd
National equalities officer Linda
Roy predicted that 450,000 disabled people will lose out
when the universal credit comes into place.
She criticised the role of the French company Atos that has been
charged with assessing disabled people in terms of fitness for
work. Many of the cases are going to appeal and the
government's response is simply to try to restrict legal aid
for appeals.
Linda also attacked the decision to shut Remploy factories.
"These workers are being made redundant in a double dip
recession. Unemployment remains significantly higher for the
disabled. Transport costs are higher," said Linda who pointed
out that the extra costs impact access to things like training and
education as well. "The government should stop closing
programmes until the workers find alternative employment, which
according to the government should not take long!" said Linda.
Linda also mentioned a cut of £115 million to the mental
health budgets and praised Labour leader Ed Miliband for raising
the issue of mental illness in a recent speech, calling on the next
Labour government to reverse the cuts being imposed by the present
regime.
The national equalities officer paid tribute to the
Olympians and Paralympians, emphasising that the Games underlined
the point that everyone is human and deserves due respect.
The subject of mental health was picked up in debate, with a call
for "a joint management workshop to provide information and
advice on mental health issues."
Of particular concern was the impact of performance management on
mental health issues.
Laura Hart of Tyne and Wear Clerical, told how in
response to her mental health problems the manager produced
tissues.
Jonathan Belshaw for the Disability Advisory
Committee (DAC) pointed out that in the mail sector it was in Royal
Mail's interests to address mental health issues because the
present approach was often finishing up at employment tribunals.
The loss of Two Tick status by Royal Mail resulted in much debate.
One motion noted that the loss underlines "a lack of
commitment by the employer to both respect and promote disability
rights in the workplace."
"It is costing a fortune, going to tribunal with disability
claims," said Ted Stead for the DAC.
Jonathan Belshaw for the DAC also accused Royal Mail of not having
a grip on reality. "It is not difficult to keep Two
Ticks," he said.
The DAC and equalities department were instructed to
liaise with the postal executive to raise the matter with the
business calling for it to "get its house in order on
respecting and promoting disability rights in the workplace."
Jackie Stuart for Central and West Lancs called
for prioritisation of funding for Alzheimer research. She pointed
out that dementia was a terminal disease yet there was a lack of
priority when it came to funding research. "Alzheimer costs
the country £23 billion a year, yet just £66 million is
devoted to research compared to £500 million for cancer,"
said Jackie, who called for more investment to find a cure.
There was condemnation for Atos and the government's Work
Capability Assessment (WCA) process. A motion highlighted the
needless deaths of hundreds of disabled people, who were abandoned
to their fates when crucial welfare support was taken away.
Further, appeals resulting from the failings of the Atos process
were costing the taxpayer £50 million a year.
Elspeth Bettany for the DAC described Atos as
"a shambles and disgrace.
"This Tory led government knows little of the needs of the
disabled. Atos has ruined the lives of many disabled people,"
said Elspeth. "The WCA is flawed and dangerous. We call on the
NEC to campaign for its immediate suspension."
Guest speaker, national deputy convener for Remploy
Tony Gledhill (pictured left) argued for the
retention of Remploy factories but for a change in the way that
they are run.
The Remploy factories were set up after World War II by the Labour
Government, but since then there has been a steady chipping away at
them. Tony recalled that 9,800 people were employed when he started
27 years ago, there are now 800 left.
Tony criticised the way that the Remploy factories are organised at
present, top heavy with managers who block off advance for many
workers.
Illustrating the point, Tony recalled that there are 424 managers
at Remploy with company cars. Some 75% of these managers will
remain employed when the factories reduce from 54 to 18.
Despite his criticism Tony paid tribute to Remploy for giving him
and other disabled people an opportunity and recalled helping a
young lad through the learning process: "He gained confidence,
got a driving license, a flat and a girlfriend," said Tony.
"Some sort of support and employment are necessary."
Tony bluntly stated that the private sector do not want to employ
disabled people, regardless of reasonable adjustments or support.
He predicted that those Remploy factories sold to the private
sector will be asset stripped, with the workers that remain seeing
cuts to pensions and other terms and conditions. The union will be
de-recognised.
Tony believes that the disabled will also be squeezed out of the
public sector, with the third sector - that includes charities -
being the only place left to find employment.
Chair of the Shropshire Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Forum Tom Kane (pictured right) described the
problems of isolation experienced by deaf people
Accompanied by his hearing dog, Nevis, Tom told how "deafness
is isolating, with blindness you can still communicate.
"You are not aware if a person is deaf. If you are looking at
a desk, a telephone or a till I can't hear you," said Tom,
who has 20 per cent of his hearing left and depends on lip reading
for much communication.
55-year-old Tom told how in 10 years' time he will have lost
all hearing. "There is a lack of awareness in this country as
to how much noise does to hearing," said Tom, who lost his
hearing in 1999, while serving with the RAF.
Tom explained how the ear works, with 15,000 to 20,000 hairs in the
cochlea which send electrical impulses to the brain. "The
larger the sound, the bigger the waves in the cochlea. If there is
too much of a wave, the hairs die," said Tom, who explained
that once the hairs start to die it is only a matter of time before
the remainder go.
Tom, who goes into schools and other organisations warning of the
damage that can be done by too much noise, warns that over 100
decibels for nine minutes can damage hearing.
He told how he will go to a school to warn that high noise levels
on I-pods and the like could result in kids needing hearing aids
before they leave school.
One answer is cochlea implants which are effective in restoring
hearing but cost £40,000 a piece, so are difficult to get on
the NHS.
