As workers and activists, we need to understand that not all disabilities are immediately noticeable – from mental illness to learning differences, diabetes, chronic pain, cognitive dysfunction and much more. CUPE strongly supports the struggle of disability justice and disability rights movements.
Persons with disabilities are still at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. People who have long COVID may face complex challenges with this disability. Scaling back COVID protocols has posed additional challenges and concerns for persons with disabilities, undermining their access to full participation in society.
For persons with disabilities who have intersecting identities, such as women, Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQI+ people, the impacts are even worse. We encourage all union leaders to take action to advance disability rights in our workplaces.
Disability justice is a union issue. Dismantling ableism and achieving disability justice makes life better for all workers.
Take action
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Use December 3 to educate and advocate for disability justice at work, in your local and in your community.
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Bargain for measures that support disability rights in your collective agreement, including employment equity, duty to accommodate, short and long-term disability coverage and language on mental health, HIV/AIDS and episodic disabilities.
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Use the Canadian Labour Congress guide, “Doing Things Differently: A Disability Rights At Work Handbook.”
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Support calls for a Canada Disability Benefit that truly lifts people with disabilities out of poverty.
