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Government steps in to save Remploy factory

Peter Devine
3/10/2007

DISABLED workers in Stockport are celebrating the news that the Government has stepped in to prevent the closure of the Remploy factory in Reddish.

The move came about during last week’s Labour Party Conference, in Bournemouth, and after workers gathered to protest against the planned closure of the factories across the country at the end of December, and the loss of 3,000 jobs.

It would have meant a miserable Christmas and New Year for the firm’s 2,300 disabled staff, which accused bosses of deliberately running down the plants across the country, which makes everything from chemical warfare suits to mattresses for Ikea.

Now the Government has moved in to safeguard the factories and prevent their closures

Brian Davies, the Wigan-based national deputy convenor, who has been on a month-long 3,000-mile campaign across the country said: “This is fantastic. All that travel and effort was worthwhile.

“And everything we asked for from the Government we have got. I think they probably realised it would have been political suicide to do so, but nevertheless we are very relieved that our jobs are safe.

“Since the announcement, the Ministry of Defence has been great in offering us more contracts.

“We said to the ministers, you give us the work and we will make a success of this company,” he added.

Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, told the conference he had made it clear to Remploy that no factory closures would occur without the agreement of Government ministers.

He explained: “Whatever the final shape of the agreement, the Government will provide a subsidy over five years of more than £555million for Remploy to have a successful future.

“We have also given a categorical guarantee there will be no compulsory redundancies for Remploy’s disabled workers with full final salary pensions protected.”