Remploy workers from St Helens to join strike (From St Helens Star)

Remploy workers from St Helens to join strike

8:21pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

REMPLOY staff from St Helens will join colleagues on strike tomorrow over threats to slash thousands of disabled jobs.

Paul Boken, the GMB union shop steward said that there were eight people from St Helens who work in the Wigan factory, one of 36 across the country threatened with closure.

He said: “After closing the factories, they have turned many of the staff into agency workers. We must make a stand for members’ jobs.”

Phil Davies GMB National Secretary added: “Disabled people in Remploy have not taken likely the decision to withdraw their labour. These are workers who do not have large amounts of savings. So for them to sacrifice a day’s pay shows the passion with which they have trying to save their jobs.

“The government is running around like a headless chicken trying to introduce separate schemes of employment support when everybody knows that the economy is in recession and sustainable employment is not available.

“This decision to force the close of Remploy means that thousands of disabled people and their families will be put into poverty and their health is bound to suffer. At the same time as the world’s athletes is going for gold.

"Our members will be sent to the dole. What a disgrace the government should hang its head in shame. We can assure them that this will not be forgotten.”