Jim McGovern pledges support for Remploy Strike Action
10 July 2012
Dundee West MP Jim McGovern today pledged his support to Remploy employees in Dundee who have voted to take strike action next week.
This came as the government announced to the House of Commons on Tuesday that 27 Remploy’s factories in the UK are to close, putting 1,421 jobs at risk.
The GMB trade union will be striking to protest the lack of consultation by the Department of Work and Pensions over these planned closures.
The Dundee factory will not be closed but is planned to be sold off into private hands by the government.
The factory was, for reasons unknown, left off the list released by the government to parliament.
Mr McGovern questioned the minister Maria Miller MP about this in the chamber, who confirmed that the Dundee bid for privatisation would go ahead.
Jim McGovern said;
“The way this Tory-led government have handled the reform of Remploy has been disgraceful.
“Not only were staff and the trade unions little consulted, many of their colleagues across the country are now facing the prospect of unemployment.”
“The excellent and historic work of Remploy to provide work opportunities and training to disabled and able-bodied employees does not deserve to be treated in this way.
“The valuable work they do will be lost, and the future looks very uncertain for those factories moving into commercial hands.”
Mr McGovern concluded,
“I will be supporting the Remploy staff as they make their voice heard next week, and I will continue to make the case that those jobs which have been spared must be supported.”