Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
Disabled people campaigning for rights – for access, benefits, services and equality; against discrimination, cuts, prejudice and pity!
From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace The trade union movement supports the demand of the disabled people’s movement: ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’. Many trade unions have structures for disabled members; if so, it may be useful to invite and … Read more
From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Refusal of time off: An employer may refuse a request for time off, for example a career break or a period of leave to adjust and make arrangements when a dependant is diagnosed … Read more
From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Workplaces and employers make work difficult for autistic workers for the following reasons: Discrimination: Treating the autistic worker differently from, less favourably than, others. Bullying by management, including ridicule and physical/ verbal abuse. Lack … Read more
From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Autism is an issue for trade unions, because: Most autistic people can work, including in ‘normal’ (whatever that may mean!) workplaces. Where adults with autism do not work, it is often because working conditions … Read more
From the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace Beware of stereotypes; they can overlook people’s individuality, and lead to mocking and bullying. ‘Autism is one of those trendy ‘conditions’ that everyone seems to have these days.’ This is a commonly-heard view, but … Read more
The following motion, which I drafted, was submitted by RMT and passed unanimously at 2013 Conference. It is included in the TUC handbook, Autism in the Workplace. We note that autism is a neurological spectrum condition. Our society – including our … Read more
From the TUC Handbook, Autism in the Workplace: Be aware that your membership (nationally, in your region, branch, workplace, etc.) is neurologically diverse, even if no-one has identified themselves to you as being on the autistic spectrum or having another neurological condition. Your … Read more
Attached is the handbook for trade unionists on ‘Autism in the Workplace’, written by me and published by the Trades Union Congress in 2014. This should be useful to all trade union reps and activists both in representing individual members … Read more
From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the Workplace’. 1910: Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term ‘autism’, derived from the Greek word autós (αὐτός, meaning self). Bleuler was researching the symptoms of schizophrenia and identified a ‘withdrawal’ present in some patients as autism. … Read more
From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the workplace’. Asperger syndrome An autism spectrum condition that affects the way a person communicates and relates to others. People with Asperger syndrome usually have fewer problems with language than those with other forms of autism, and … Read more
From the TUC handbook, ‘Autism in the workplace’. All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism Autism Europe Autism Hub (list of autism blogs) Autistic UK DANDA (Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association) National Autistic Society
January 2014: NASUWT and NUT teachers are taking industrial action in National Autistic Society schools. You can read more about it here. I have sent the following message of support to the NASUWT, and a similar one to the NUT. … Read more
This is the speech I gave at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference 2013 in proposing RMT’s resolution on Autism in the Workplace. Andrew Beck has Asperger syndrome, an autistic spectrum condition. He was a golf club greenkeeper for 13 years with … Read more
The meeting took place on the final day of our 48-hour strike on London Underground and TfL. The Committee agreed to send a message of support to RMT and TSSA, and Committee members held a brief protest (in the pouring … Read more
Co-Chairs – Sean McGovern and Mandy Hudson were elected as co-Chairs of the TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee (DWC). Committee membership – There is a vacancy for a women’s seat on the Committee. This has been notified to unions. Timing of … Read more
This is the speech I gave to TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference on 28 May 2014. Many of you will have your own experiences of both the freedom provided by public transport and the difficulty using it – be that the … Read more
An attempt to put the ups and downs of depression into verse … Bright skies, natural highs, Summer haze, happy days, Good things … mood swings Dark cloud, not proud Guilt, shame, down again Life’s shit, deep pit Break down, … Read more
Knives. Forks. Spoons. Obviously. What other arrangement could it possibly be? There’s a reason that cutlery drawers have three distinct spaces So we can place our utensils in their correct places It’s forks in the middle, knives and spoons to … Read more
This poem is about the murder of 18-year-old, gay, autistic student Steven Simpson – and the appalling miscarriage of justice when his killer was prosecuted. You can read a news report giving more information here; and the resolution adopted by … Read more