Fit for Purpose

Good Morning Conference. Kevin Daws moving Motion 3 – Fit for Purpose – on behalf of the UCU

Conference, whilst all disability campaigners should be congratulated on the campaign last year to repel the Labour Government’s cuts to disability and related benefits. We cannot afford to be complacent.

The fact that there is not a Welfare Bill in last week’s King’s Speech does not come as a surprise to me, and I’m sure that it does not come as a surprise to you either.

Just ask yourself, why would the Government want to introduce a new Welfare Bill when it could provoke another political storm and another parliamentary rebellion? Why not continue with what the Government are currently doing which is introducing disability cuts through the back door through:

• tightening the application of the criteria used for PIP

• forcibly moving claimants from ESA to Universal Credit, resulting in substantial cuts in benefits

• removing tax emptions from the Motability scheme

At this point can I pay tribute to Andy Mitchell who from DPAC who is currently challenging his local authority and has been granted permission to bring a judicial review against the council, challenging the lawfulness of its current housing benefits scheme.

Conference, in the past we called on the previous Conservative Government to end its ‘War on Disabled People’.

Like many of you, I had hoped that the change of Government would have brought an end to the ‘War on Disabled People’. Sadly, under this Labour Government that war has intensified and the continuing attacks on disabled people can only be described as relentless.

These attacks include:

• Claiming that mental health conditions are being misdiagnosed or over diagnosed

• Slashing the money available to existing Access to Work recipients as well as threatening to make further and deeper cuts

• Trying to turn PIP into an in-work benefit rather than a source of financial support to address the higher cost of living faced by disabled people.

• Reinterpreting how the criteria for PIP are implemented with the eligibility rules being tightened even further in November

• Attacking the Motability Scheme through removing the tax exemptions and reducing the number of miles that a person can drive

Conference ever since this Government was elected in July 2024 we have made it clear that we would like to work in partnership with them and in co-production with Deaf and Disabled People’s organisations to reform the benefits system and disability support system to make it fit for purpose for disabled people and disabled workers. An important element of this is to challenge, remove and eradicate the ableist assumptions embedded in the benefit system.

Conference, we would like the Government to end their War on Disabled People, but let us be clear, we will NOT lay down and let them walk all over us.

We will stand together as Deaf and Disabled workers to repel any Government attacks and we will win.

Conference we have to ask why the Government are determined to attack and vilify disabled people?

Why do they want to drive us out of work and into poverty?

• Why aren’t they bringing in Windfall taxes to tax the obscene profits made by big businesses and energy companies?

• Why aren’t they closing tax loopholes to ensure that the rich and the big corporates are paying their fair share of taxes

• Why aren’t they recovering our money from those who were awarded contracts during Covid through the VIP lane and subsequently supplied goods not fit for purpose.

Conference Nothing About Us without Us

Good afternoon, Chair, conference. Marlene Blake, representing UNISON National Disabled Members Committee. Talking in support of motion 3 – Fit for Purpose

I was not going to speak but felt empowered to do so in support of this motion and the ongoing fight for disability rights. Sometimes the fight feels relentless, very often it exasperates existing challenges.

But conference, this motion shines a light on solidarity, especially when people come together to campaign. This motion celebrates a significant victory in resisting harmful cuts to disability benefits by the Labour Government. Yes, the Labour Government, who would have thought they would do that.

Marlene Blake of Unison supporting Motion 3 - Fit for Purpose

Too often Government systems that should support disabled people, often operate indifferently and cause harm or disadvantage to disabled people.

These cuts threatened the well-being and dignity of disabled individuals, and it is crucial that we continue to oppose them.

The Labour government’s tactics are clear attempts to undermine support for disabled people. These measures disproportionately impact those with mental health, cognitive impairments and physical disabilities, who deserve equal recognition, protection, and support.

It is vital that the trade union movement and disability organisations continue to work together to hold the government accountable. We must lobby for a system that is fair, inclusive, and free from ableist assumptions.

Conference, this is why this motion matters to UNISON, UNISON is a union that recognises intersectionality, the way different inequalities combine, and impact people’s lives and our policies aim to address inequality and ensure equity.

As trade unionists we must champion the rights and needs of disabled people and challenge any back door attempts to diminish these rights or introduce cuts to benefits that support us in or out of work.

I want to share a personal perspective to highlight the importance of this issue. I applied for PIP based on advice from my ESA officer, who stressed that I should and believed I would qualify due to my health concerns.

As a dyslexic individual with other health symptoms, I was awarded the highest disability benefit for ESA, yet when I applied for PIP, I scored no points.

Apparently, my claim failed to demonstrate how my condition affects my daily life, my ability to communicate my lived experience effectively on paper put me at a disadvantage.

This disparity affected me substantially financially and forced me to work whilst unwell, and periods of fending off capability proceedings for several years until I was able to secure the in work and financial support necessary to enable me to thrive.

My dyslexia makes it difficult for me to articulate my challenges clearly, which impacted my application. This experience underscores why this motion is so important.

It reveals a systemic flaw: the application process is not fit for purpose for many disabled people. Without proper support, individuals like me are disadvantaged, unable to fully convey their needs and circumstances and could be financially disadvantaged because of this.

I believe as a disabled worker with appropriate assistance, I am capable and deserving of achieving and being the best, I can be with the support I need. Every day being different, every day my support needs vary.

In conclusion, we must continue to fight for a fairer, more inclusive system that recognises the diverse experiences and needs of disabled people.

We must ensure that policies or procedures do not marginalise or discriminate but instead empower and support all individuals to live with dignity and independence.

Finally, Conference, this motion calls on the TUC Disabled Workers Committee to partner with disabled individuals and organisations, advocating for reforms that make the benefits and support systems fit for purpose.

Because when voices are heard, change becomes possible.

Conference, supporting this motion is about fairness, inclusion and solidarity.

Conference, please support this motion, because it’s the only fitting thing to do.

Thank you.

Tell us about your experiences of the disability benefits system and whether you think it is Fit for Purpose. Please share your views and your experiences in the comment box below this article.

Motion 3 - Fit for Purpose

Conference congratulates the Disability movements’ important victory in repelling the Labour Government’s cuts to disability and related benefits.

Conference also notes and congratulates the trade union movement on their active and important support that they provided to the Disability movement.

Conference notes that the Government is introducing disability benefit cuts through the back door through:

i. tightening the application of the criteria used for PIP

ii. forcibly moving claimants from ESA to Universal Credit, resulting in substantial cuts in benefits

iii. removing tax exemptions from the Motability scheme

Conference asserts that mental health impairments and physical disabilities must receive equal recognition, protection, and support from the government.

Conference calls on

a) the TUC Disabled Workers Committee to work in partnership to support their disabled members, and disabled people as a whole, by lobbying the Labour Government to end its war on disabled people and withdraw these benefit cuts.

b) the TUC Disabled Workers Committee to put pressure on the Labour Government to work in partnership and co-production with the Deaf and Disabled Peoples Organisations (DDPO) to reform the benefits system and disability support systems to make them fit for purpose through removing the embedded ableist assumptions.