November 27, 2024

 

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), a day to recognize the vital contributions of persons with disabilities in our workplaces, communities and unions.

This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” serves as a reminder that inclusion is not just about removing barriers but about creating opportunities for leadership and influence.

Workers with disabilities have always been integral to labour and social movements and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected.

Unifor locals can play a pivotal role in this effort. We encourage all locals to take concrete steps to foster greater inclusion and accessibility, including:

• Reviewing collective agreements in conjunction with workers with lived experience to ensure they include provisions that accommodate workers with diverse abilities, such as flexibility for caregiving, modified work arrangements and accessibility measures.
• Establishing Workers with disAbilities committees to provide spaces for advocacy, leadership and the development of inclusive practices. These committees empower workers with disabilities to engage fully in union activities and help shape the priorities of their locals.
• Creating spaces for mentoring and encouraging workers with diverse abilities to run for leadership positions, ensuring their voices are represented at every decision-making table.
• Using the Inclusive Practices Toolkit when planning membership meetings, ratifications, and other union events. Simple steps like providing accessible locations, offering closed captioning and distributing materials in alternative formats can make a significant difference.
• Sharing educational resources, such as the Workers with disAbilities video at local meetings to spark conversations and raise awareness about the experiences of workers with disabilities.

Our union will continue to push employers to do their part in providing a workplace that is accessible to all workers. Accessibility in the workplace must go beyond compliance; it should be rooted in respect and equity. Employers must actively work to eliminate physical, technological, and systemic barriers and create environments where all workers can contribute their skills and leadership.

Our union is proud of the work of the Workers with disAbilities Committees, whose leadership and advocacy have been instrumental in driving these conversations forward. Their work exemplifies the power of collective action in breaking down barriers and amplifying voices that have too often been sidelined.

This year, as we reflect on the theme of IDPD, we challenge ourselves and our communities to move beyond awareness and commit to tangible actions that support the leadership and participation of workers with disabilities. Only by doing so can we achieve an inclusive and sustainable future where no one is left behind.

Together, let’s continue building a union and a society that values and celebrates the contributions of all workers.