Addressing delegates at in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, Rab Donnelly – Usdaw deputy general secretary said: “Disability rights is an important topic for members and Usdaw. Campaigning on disability issues is always high on the union's agenda and always an area where we are happy to do more. The number of people living with a disability in the UK is rising, almost 17 million people are classed as having a disability, that's a quarter of the population, and the sad truth is that the rate of disability gets higher as we get older.
“Close to half of people over the State Pension Age are classed as having a disability. So, it is true to say that this is an issue that will affect almost all of us at some stage, whether that be through living with a disability, or supporting someone who is. But we are facing a worrying trend in this country, where those with disabilities are being demonised, stereotyped and degraded. And the hard-won rights enshrined in the Equality Act are seen by some as a burden.
So, it is important that this is not just a debate we have here today, but also, a debate we have back in our workplaces and in wider society. Making clear the need to protect those with a disability and make sure everyone is given the same opportunities.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion