UCU statement on UK government's benefit and welfare cuts

In an inaccessible society, disabled people are currently facing barriers to accessing the workplace, with reasonable adjustments not being implemented promptly. Travel and transport remain inaccessible, marked by inconsistencies among service providers. The government must urgently do more than balance the books at the expense of disabled individuals.

After fourteen years of Conservative government that oversaw severe attacks on disabled individuals, who were unfairly portrayed as work-shy and benefit scroungers, the current government continues with the same damaging rhetoric.

Denying disabled people access to essential support designed to empower them to lead fully independent lives sharply contrasts with the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (i). The trade union movement has long advocated for the rights of disabled individuals in both the workplace and society as a whole.

UCU will campaign alongside the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the broader trade union movement, as well as with disabled people's organisations, to advance the rights of disabled individuals, including:

• continuing to campaign and negotiate for accessible and inclusive workplaces
• advocating for the abolition of all benefit sanctions
• enhancing financial support for disabled individuals seeking employment, housing, welfare, healthcare, and education
• strengthening employment rights, including increased protections against disability hate crime.

It's time to act: reach out to your MP to prevent further cuts to welfare and benefits for disabled individuals, and to ensure their rights are safeguarded.

Pushing disabled people further into poverty and increased risk is not the solution.

Pat Roche, chair of Disabled members' standing committee and NEC FE disabled rep
Bijan Parsia, NEC HE disabled rep

(i) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) uses the term people with disabilities and has expressed respect for the use of social model language.