Steward Tip of the Week
Since it took effect in July 1992, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – a landmark civil rights law – has revolutionized the workplace by extending the civil rights umbrella to cover people with disabilities. Modeled after the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides equal opportunity in employment to workers with disabilities. Essentially, the law says that if a worker is qualified, an employer with fifteen or more employees may not refuse to hire that worker because of his or her disability. It has the potential of providing significant benefits for workers across the country, providing union representatives with an additional tool for effectively fighting for members’ rights. The ADA requires employers and unions to provide people who have disabilities with equal access to services and to ensure they are accorded equal opportunity in hiring.
Adapted from The Union Steward’s Complete Guide, 2nd Edition, edited by David Prosten