Union stands with Remploy

So said delegates on Tuesday at the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) annual conference in Blackpool.

The message of solidarity follows Con-Dem plans to shut down 36 of Britain's 54 Remploy offices, which provide stable employment for people with disabilities.

Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller has defended the decision saying the money saved could instead be used "to support the individual through access to work."

But disability campaigners have warned the closures would leave 1,700 vulnerable people out of work at a time of record unemployment.

Around 2.65 million people across Britain - 8.3 per cent of the workforce - are still out of work and for young people the figure is even higher at 22.2 per cent, according to official figures released last week.

Usdaw general secretary John Hannett condemned the move and said: "In an ideal world, we wouldn't need supported employment because disabled workers wouldn't be discriminated against.

"But we don't live in an ideal world.

"We live in a world where twice as many disabled people are out of work than non-disabled people, where disabled people consistently earn less than their non-disabled colleagues and where disabled people are more likely to face disciplinary action and harassment at work."

The government's cuts were especially shocking given the current crisis.

Mr Hannett said: "1,700 disabled workers will be out of work at a time when unemployment is rising daily, when there are over a million young people unemployed and the future for disability benefits looks bleak."

Remploy workers in London have called a public meeting at Holborn's Faraday House on Wednesday to discuss the crisis, hosted by the Unite union.

rorym@peoples-press.com