Remploy plant closures protest

Demonstrations will be held today in protest at the planned closure of factories employing disabled workers, warning of the problems they will face finding other jobs.

Hundreds of disabled workers from the Remploy factories will take part in the protests in Sheffield and London, targeting the offices of the Department for Work and Pensions. Unions have attacked the announced closure of 36 of the 54 Remploy sites this summer, saying more than 1,700 staff faced compulsory redundancy, including 1,500 disabled employees.

Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: “Our members feel outrage that the Government could take jobs from disabled people in this current climate.