Public Services International The global union federation of workers in public services

These workers are far too often denied human rights and excluded in activities taken for granted by others.

This is a grave injustice to people with disabilities and robs communities of the benefits of their creative talent and productive potential.

Their concerns are often absent from policies, institutions and public services. Disability can be a normal part of the life-course for everyone, regardless of whether it arises at birth, from injuries, health conditions (including mental health), age-related conditions, or unsafe working conditions.

We fight for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including the workforce and public services.

Nothing about us, without us

Addressing disability is a key part of trade union action in fighting inequality and injustice and protecting the most vulnerable.

Understanding disability in this social sense also highlighted the importance of treating it in an intersectional way, particularly in relation to gender and socio-economic status. Disabled women often suffer higher incidences of violence against women. PSI's work has generated a discussion within the ILO around the privatisation of public services which adversely affects persons with disabilities.

People with disabilities comprise 15% of the world’s population.

Recruitment in the public sector has a fixed process and anti-discrimination measures; often in privatized services this transparency is lost. Both in the provision of disability-specific services as well as accessibility/inclusion measures, privatisation has a negative impact.

New Disability Insurance Schemes, combined with privatisation of services, has in many cases not led to the increased choices it was designed to deliver. This differentiation especially happens across class or rural/urban divides. Sadly we see the same tendencies in many countries – with austerity measures hitting people with disabilities hard with sometimes fatal consequences.

Public services are key in improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Public health provision allows for increased tailoring for groups with higher health needs as part of broader social health initiatives.

Education programs can encourage integration, offer quality employment for disabled workers at schools and provide vital services for children with disabilities.

Public services that work for persons with disabilities are good for everyone – this is a key measure for building truly inclusive societies.

We fight for the rights of disabled workers

We build a network for disabled trade union activists. Disabled workers need to have their own voice within the trade union movement.

We expand trade union participation in global policy on disability issues.Trade unions need to work in close coalition with disability organisations.

We fight privatisation of public services for persons with disabilities. Privatization of public services for people with disabilities has a very detrimental effect on the quality of service and the lives of those that depend on them.

We analyse best practices. Inclusive policies matter, and we need to promote models that work for our disabled comrades.

We build a network for disabled trade union activists. Disabled workers need to have their own voice within the trade union movement