The Trades Union Congress has called for disabled workers to be protected from discrimination during the recession.

It fears this recession will repeat history and see disabled workers facing discrimination and unfair selection for redundancy. With fewer chances of securing alternative work, the union organisation believes it is vital to keep disabled workers in employment during the economic downturn.

The TUC claims increased unemployment for disabled workers can lead to social divide, increase the prospect of discrimination and can lead to real long-term hardship for disabled people.

Speaking at the TUC's annual disability conference in London today, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady will say: "By this time next year, it is likely that unemployment will have surged past the three million mark.

"As in previous recessions it will be disabled workers who will be disproportionately affected: by funding pressures on key services, with the public finances now deep in the red; by discrimination during redundancy selection, based perhaps on absence records; and by an even greater reluctance on the part of employers to meet their obligations towards disabled staff.

"It's our job as unionists to be alert to these dangers; to hold employers and indeed ministers to account for the actions they take. Otherwise we face a reversal of the slow, painful progress we have made over the past decade in increasing the employment rate among disabled people."

Turning to the Government's welfare reform proposals, Frances O'Grady will add: "Too many people - including some with disabilities - will still suffer the consequences of reforms that pander more to tabloid rhetoric about spongers and layabouts than they do to the real needs of some of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

"The TUC is absolutely determined that disabled workers will not be victimised by welfare reform; that they should not suffer unfairly in this recession; and that they must not be disadvantaged by the business lobby's misplaced belief that equality is somehow a luxury we can no longer afford.

"We will continue to support unions to support their disabled members. We will continue to help unions build a new, nationwide network of equality reps. And we will continue to work with unions in the battle to secure justice for Remploy workers."