International Trade Union Support Project Carey Ann Clarke Baligasima Yazidi

A Partnership Approach Programme Partners People with Disabilities Disabled People’s Organisations NOTU National Organisation of Trade Unions (Uganda) TUICO Tanzania Union of Industrial & Commercial Workers Disability Aid Abroad (NI) Employers Trade Union Partners ICTU TUC Unison PSEU INTO IMPACT CWU ALF-CIO CSTWF Unite NIPSA UTU

From the Coast to the Hills 674 miles/ 1085km NB: Dublin – Rome = 1170

Status of People with Disabilities in Society Disability viewed as a “curse” or “contagious” 20% of people living on one US Dollar a day have a disability Just 2% attend secondary education and less than 1% have finished vocational education Households including someone with a disability have 60% below average household consumption 80-90% unemployment rate

People with Disabilities in Employment Limited access to vocational education and training Lack equality of opportunity and integration in community Traditionally self employed or seeking micro finance Vocational rehabilitation institutions – workshop situations or handicrafts Limited access to formal employment Limited access to protective rights of Trade Union Little measurement of progress towards employment “Quota”

Initial Barriers to Trade Union employment support Awareness of disability issues is extremely low Disability is synonymous with incapacity and unproductive Trade Unionists asked “how can we work for people with disabilities when non-disabled people cannot find work?” Can be an accessible provider of positive case studies

Working through Trade Unions Access to most formal sector workplace and collective bargaining power for rights Delivering Disability Awareness training to trade union officials and members; Support companies employing persons with disabilities; Training on disability in the workplace for human resource managers Media campaigns on the employment of persons with a disability.

Training & Disability Champions Train the Trainers - Disability Equality Sessions with people with disabilities Training on Supported Employment Model Training of Disability Champion representatives De-mystifying National Disability Legalisation

A whole new model…. Disability Equality –promote social model not charity model Supported Employment model of people with disabilities in the workplace Union activists (not just disability activists) to spread the message through the trade union movement

Mapping Exercises Use branch system of Trade Union to explore number of PWDs in membership across whole country Explore existing support in employment Identify areas and “types” of disabilities that need further support Link people with disabilities to employment and explore local support available

Working with Union Leadership Some had limited understanding of the issues facing people View that PWD small minority in workforce and smaller number inside the Unions Work to reduce defensiveness- help leadership feel they are not being unduly criticised Sensitization -Promote positive examples and experiences Secure budget allocation for work with people with disabilities

Increasing accessibility of Unions Encourage Unions to work from a social model perspective Increase understanding through Workers’ Education Programmes and sharing best practice Encourage and strengthen alliances forged among DPOs and Trade Unions Prioritise the adoption of policies favouring the training and placement of disabled persons in suitable work, on an equal platform.

Union Constitutional Change Individual unions changed Constitutions articles regarding rights of people with disabilities Disability Committee established Disability Representation at National Executive Board Enable mobilization for supported employment in workplaces

Working with Employers Disability Training for HR managers Promote good practice – newsletters, Employer of the Year Promote reasonable adjustments in advertising and interviews Ensure reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities with employers Explain government workplace incentives e.g. tax rebate Promote information on Rights of PWDs in workplaces

Strengthening & Realising Rights Increased awareness of the Human Rights of People with disabilities Increased numbers informed of National Disability Legislation and implementations Decreasing workplace discrimination Economic empowerment for people with disabilities Increased inclusion for people with disabilities

Learning from Experience “learn the lessons from our past experiences this will strengthen our ability” Can use trade unions structures to share positive resolutions Through disability committees can make recommendations to General Secretary & National Executive Inclusion of other models – e.g. Supported Employment

Transferring the Model Continue Partnership building Build portfolio of successful supported employment examples International Sharing of learning Strengthen Rights of People with Disabilities in accessing work, rights in work and inclusion in society

Future Developments Extend model to other countries in East African Federation …..Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda… Initial Discussion for work with Ethiopian Trade Unions East African Disability Employment Conference