Unions say closure of government-run factories will force thousands of vulnerable people out of work
Amelia Hill
Thousands of disabled workers employed at government-run Remploy factories are striking over plans to close at least half of the factories.
Half the Remploy plants, which employ people with disabilities, face closure by the end of the year, while others face an uncertain future or closure next year under government plans. Ministers have argued that they are loss-making, and money would be better spent helping individuals find jobs elsewhere. But unions say it will force vulnerable people out of work.
By 6.50am on Thursday employees were already gathering, waving placards and unfurling protest banners outside the Remploy factory in Barking. "It is not easy for disabled people as vulnerable and frail as we are to make this sort of protest," said Mark Holloway, who has cerebral palsy and has worked at the factory for 26 years.
"The fact that we've been pushed to come out onto the streets, so early in the morning, to take direct action, shows how desperate we are to save our jobs."
Tony Smales, incapacitated after a fall 13 years ago, leaned heavily on his walkingstick and agreed. A woman with learning difficulties, who asked not to be named, stood apart from her colleagues, shaking - nerves brought on she said by the effort of joining her colleagues in the protest.
Set up after the second world war to provide sheltered employment for disabled servicemen and women, there are 54 Remploy factories across the UK, employing 2,800 disabled people.
The sites cover a variety of enterprises: they make chemical warfare suits for troops in Afghanistan, parts for Jaguar cars, and most of the furniture for Britain's schools and libraries.
But only a few factories break even. The government spends £320m on its disability employment budget. A significant proportion of that - £68m - is used to subsidise the total losses the sites make each year. On average, each Remploy worker is subsidised by the government by £25,000 a year.
After 18 months of consultations, the coalition has finally concluded that 27 Remploy factories must close, with a further nine subject to further scrutiny. More than 1,700 jobs will be put at risk when the closures start next month. The funding, ministers insist, will achieve more if focussed on individual support to get workers into mainstream employment.
To soften the blow, Remploy workers have been guaranteed tailored, one-on-one support and guidance as part of an £8m package. But the promise has failed to reassure Alan Waddington, who has spent the last 13 years working at Remploy in Barking, where management said losses last year were £1.6m.
Waddington pointed to research by the GMB union revealing that 90% of disabled Remploy workers who took voluntary redundancy 18 months ago under a similar package of support have failed to find work. "It's not for want of trying," he said. "But no one wants them."
It's not just jobs that have been lost, Waddington added bitterly. "Remploy is a family, a community. It's protection and support against all the prejudice and discrimination disabled people face in the outside world. They've lost all of that too."
Liam Smith, leader of the Barking and Dagenham council, arrived at the picket site before 7am so that he could make his stand before an 8am council meeting. "It's disgusting, putting disabled people out of work," he said. "It's picking on the most vulnerable but also the most highly-skilled individuals: there's no sense or savings in it."
Smith was also sceptical about the government's promise that workers would find jobs in the mainstream market. He had to implement cuts of £14m from the council's public spending last year. There are £20m more to come.
"The government says these people will be helped into local employment but where are these jobs?" he said. "A single vacancy in this area can attract 100-plus applicants. I know fit, young people with university degrees who can't get a job stacking shelves at Tesco. What hope do these disabled people have in that climate?
"Remploy employees could have sat at home all their lives, claiming benefits but instead they've taken great pride in triumphing over their disabilities to go to work, pay their taxes and contribute to their local community," he added. "These people are an asset to our country. We should be proud of them. Instead, we're condemning them to lives of unemployment and poverty."
Unite's national officer, Sally Kosky, said: "We are expecting the vast majority of the workforce across the 54 factories to strike.
"They are rightly angry that they face a bleak future on the dole, as it is always more difficult for those with disabilities to obtain employment. Work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, should take a lesson from the Cardiff government, which has shown compassion and practical financial help to keep Remploy workers in jobs for at least four years."
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "We're disappointed that the unions are taking strike action which will do nothing to secure the future jobs of Remploy staff. The government would encourage the trade unions to fully engage with Remploy during the consultation process to provide the best possible support and success for disabled staff who may leave the company."
A second strike will be held next Thursday.
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