Civic reception to celebrate Year of Disabled Workers

Following a request from Aberdeen Trades Union Council, Aberdeen City Council held a special event at the Beach Ballroom on Tuesday 28th March to mark 2022 - The Year of Disabled Workers.

The event was due to be held back in December 2022 but had to be postponed due to bad weather.

Photos by Norman Adam

Employers and workers were invited to celebrate disabled workers at the special free event, with the aim of gaining practical insights into recruiting, retaining and including disabled people at work, and to learn about the advice and support available to employers and employees to help organisations become more inclusive.

As the Lord Provost of Aberdeen said: "An inclusive workplace brings benefits across the board – for employees, customers, the organisation, and across the wider city."

ATUC Vice-president, Kathleen Kennedy, spoke at the event and thanked Aberdeen City Council for hosting the event at the request of ATUC.

ATUC - leading in disabilities since the 1800s - celebrates Disability History Month

Aberdeen Trades Union Council is celebrating Disability History Month which takes place between the 18th November to the 20 December every year.

With a theme this year of Access: How far have we come? How far have we to go? it is timely to note that Aberdeen Trades Union Council's (ATUC) involvement with and support of disabled workers isn't new.

ATUC has a long history of campaigning for equalities and has been disability friendly from as far back as 1886, when two blind delegates attended Trades Union Council meetings for the first time. The two delegates were Mr  Johnston and Mr John Keir.  Keir had lost his sight as a result of an accident he had as a child aged four.

John Keir who was originally from Strathdon, went on to serve as ATUC President from 1895 – 1898 and he was also the Vice President  between 1888 - 1893.  He had an incredible memory for facts and figures and he barely got a delegate’s name wrong if at all.  John Keir was also the STUC President for a year 1898 when the STUC held their second conference which was in Aberdeen. Not only was Keir one of the former ATUC presidents he had also was one of the directors of the Co-operative and elected to the school board in 1894 and became chairman in 1911.

Please join us to celebrate Disability History Month with booklet launch on Disability History

ATUC affiliate, Aberdeenshire UNISON will celebrate Disability History Month and the International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December 4-5pm with an online event.

This event  will also see the launch of a booklet, Disability History: Fascinating Facts, penned by branch equalities officer, Kathleen Kennedy.

All our delegates, associates, friends and families are warmly invited to attend.

You can join from your computer, tablet or smartphone. 

Go to the Facebook event for more details and full joining instructions.

The theme, ‘turning disability into ability’ focusses on the achievements of disabled people.  The Fascinating Facts booklet looks at disability over the past 200 years with a particular spotlight on the North East of Scotland. As well as the historical context it also includes features on prominent local disabled people who have achieved great things.

Kathleen speaks out at the STUC disabled workers conference

Kathleen Kennedy

Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President had a busy time as she represented the ATUC at the STUC disabled workers’ conference in November.

As well as moving the ATUC motion  Kathleen spoke in three other debates.

She said, “It was a sheer delight to be there participating on behalf of the North East of Scotland.

“Throughout the conference, there was a lot of enthusiasm that was infectious and you could see how everyone was willing to take part and encouraged each other to do so.

“As disability and work related issues is one of my specialist areas I was determined to take part.”

The ATUC motion called on the STUC to look at giving additional speaking time to people with communication disabilities at STUC conferences and to encourage other affiliated unions to do this also.

Kathleen said, “This is something that I am very passionate about as I have noticed in many conferences I have attended that I am sometimes the only person or one of only a few people with a communication disability speaking. I felt it was very important that we encourage and enable more people with communication disabilities to feel able to take part.”

The motion was approved and was put to the STUC Disabled Workers Committee to implement.