IN May 1881 Engels wrote in the Labour Standard: “A fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work? But what is a fair day’s wages, and what is a fair day’s work?”
Over a hundred years later no one can expect a job for life. In the current financial and economic climate people are unsure of job security and this becomes even more of a problem if you are disabled.
Over two days the Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (CFDT) held a conference with almost 200 members to discuss the the inclusion of disabled people in ‘the right to work’ and ‘the rights of man.’
CFDT are aware that there is a great need for better training for disabled people and the people who employ them. The matter of rights for disabled people also needed to be raised. However, when it comes to rights, the right to be valued, respected and receive training which are inherent to all employees, whoever they are, was also stressed.
The question of insertion and assertion is something very high on CFDT’s agenda, especially when he comes to disabled people as they are extremely vulnerable when it comes to employment. “Improvements and other developments in terms of organisation of jobs are advantageous to all wage earners,” they say.
Companies are directed that they employ a quota of disabled people or they are subject to a fine, however, companies would rather pay the fine than meet the quota.
One couple of our acquaintance has a son who is deaf. He holds high class degrees, but is unable to find a job.
Training is another subject that was high profile over the two day conference and something that CFDT see as a challenge. They see training as something that should start as soon as possible at the work place and be an ongoing part of employment.
They are also concerned over the education of disabled children, a difficulty which is raised many times by concerned parties and professionals.
Families, educators and professionals have many concerns over the education of disabled throughout the educational system where there is a breakdown in equality; brought about by a lack of means and recognition.
The second day of the conference was devoted to workshops where the issues were discussed. The feedback highlighted that it is an absolute necessity for members to be aware of their rights and that they are continually kept fully informed. Continuing dialogue between those involved makes the subject less traumatic and concrete results are a more likely outcome.
The secretary general of CFDT, François Chèrèque, reminded the meeting ‘where CFDT is present, there are concrete results’.
With such promises by none other than the secretary general of the union, can there be results and what will they be?
At this time of financial disruption there are bound to be losers in the field of industry. No company should look for scapegoats but when it comes to those who are more vulnerable, are the disabled likely to take the brunt of redundancies?
CFDT seem to have a lot to say on the subject but they do have other fish to fry and it is a large union with more than 800,000 members across France.
Let us just hope they can produce the goods of better training, better job contracts, better training for young people, better education for disabled children and allowing the disabled to receive what is their worth; respect, value and the same rights as other workers.
One member pointed out that, ‘because disability is a chance of life, it is in any case our identity’. But I would add that although being disabled is a chance of life, life shouldn’t be just left to chance.
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Website to bring together disabled and potential employers