In Solidarity: Labor and Disability Justice

Disability Pride Month is a celebration of differences in ability that has its origins in the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), a crucial piece of legislation ensuring anti-discrimination protections. This Disability Pride Month, we’re reflecting on the labor movement’s relationship of solidarity with the disability justice movement. 

There’s a reason union contracts are thought of as “great equalizers;” they set a standard for employers, and they offer a clear recourse to workers when those standards go unmet. For disabled workers, the protections and benefits of a union contract go further than for others. Facing one of the most staggering wage gaps among marginalized workers at just 66 cents to every able-bodied worker’s $1, unionized disabled workers see up to 30% more in earnings than non-unionized disabled workers. Disabled union members also see higher rates of retention in their jobs and are more likely to seek out an accommodation when they need it. In recent years, we’ve seen union contracts include benefits like extended paid leave time, the creation of committees to address accessibility needs in the workplace, and the right to temporary work adjustments while accommodations are being worked out. 

Since 2019, the amount of workers 16 and older with a disability has gone up 10%. It’s no surprise that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a new class of disabled workers, and it’s equally unsurprising that as a result of workers seeking greater health and safety protections, union membership rose in the state of New Jersey. Our Local fought hard to win and keep COVID tracking and sick leave, and is currently still fighting for permanent remote work for state workers, a benefit that members have said makes their disabilities more manageable by cutting down on difficult commutes, limiting over-stimulation and enabling focus, and allowing for them to make better use of leave time for frequent doctor’s visits. 

Now, more than ever, unions can play a key role in expanding the rights of disabled workers by advocating for more accessible worksites, better wages and benefits, and policy initiatives that protect disabled workers from discrimination. A victory for disabled workers is a victory for all workers.