Disabled college and university staff 'discriminated against'

Kate Heasman, equality official at UCU, represented the union on the commission and is speaking at today's launch of the report. She said: 'The report's overview that there has been "a systematic failure to address the issue seriously, which has led to widespread institutional discrimination against disabled staff" is one we very much concur with.

'UCU very much welcomes this report. UCU was well-represented on the commission, and ideas from our commissioners and recommendations from our disabled members' committee are embedded in the report.

'We welcome the report's recommendation that the agreement on disability equality in employment between the Association of Colleges (AoC) and the further education unions be taken up by every college and university. The advice to also develop specific agreements on disability leave is much needed. UCU will be watching closely to see how college and university employers implement the proposals.'

UCU is determined to fulfil its own responsibilities to its disabled members, Kate said: 'In the recommendations to trade unions and employer bodies, UCU will endeavour to meet the challenges, including producing its own equality scheme, facilitating the involvement of disabled staff in our structures and ensuring that paid officials and lay officers receive disability equality training'.

UCU member Sasha Callaghan was also a commissioner involved in drafting the report. Sasha, a disability activist for many years, is president-elect of UCU and becomes the union's president in June 2008.

From Compliance to Culture Change (ISBN 978-1-86201-359-9, £18.95) is the final report from the Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning..