Evaluating the role of trade unions and civil society organisations in supporting graduate educated disabled workers. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: William, Laura; Cunningham, Ian
• Is Part Of: Economic and industrial democracy. Volume 42:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 648
• Page End: 666
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Civil society organisations -- disability -- graduate employment -- trade unions -- vulnerable workers -- workplace representation; Management -- Employee participation -- Periodicals; 331.0112
• DOI: 10.1177/0143831X18799899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-831X

Abstract

This study explores the perceptions of disabled graduates regarding the effectiveness of employment-related advice and support provided by trade unions and civil society organisations (CSOs). The article reveals distinct areas of expertise, with union impact largely based in the workplace, as disabled graduates indicate limited knowledge of collectivism or broader union national disability campaigns. CSOs engage with disabled graduates across a broader range of themes, including access to the labour market and disability-related policy, with some indirect influence on workplace issues, and meet all four of Bellemare's criteria for an industrial relations actor. In the face of concerns about the effectiveness of these representative institutions, the study identifies some conditions that may favour coalitions to support disabled workers, drawing on unions' and CSOs' distinct and overlapping areas of expertise.