Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/717/14496
From The Socialist newspaper, 9 May 2012
Duncan Smith throws insults at Remploy workers
Pat Atkinson, Unite LE 1111 branch
Tory Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has claimed that disabled Remploy workers are "not doing any work... just making cups of coffee". He wants to shut 36 factories across the country - axing 1,518 jobs - to save money and get more people into "proper jobs".
I recently attended a Remploy employees campaign meeting in London. 40 people from various unions, were there.
Speakers explained how Remploy had been run down by all governments. There were details about the top heavy management and the under-valuing of staff, who are being refused good quality training to do new work. Remploy workers are proud of doing "proper jobs" - skilled work, producing products and equipment for use in education, the health service and elsewhere.
But an example was given of the local DWP using the Remploy factory for work experience for young people, while Remploy management were not replacing staff who retired or left the run-down site.
The national charities who had lined up with the previous New Labour government and now the Con-Dems to do reports in favour of closure of the factories were condemned. A word of caution was raised at any future joint activity with these organisations as they tend to be anti-trade union in practice.
I pledged the support of my Unite branch and demanded increased investment for Remploy, and an increase in working opportunities for the wider disability community.
All a government spokesperson could say in response to the anger at Duncan Smith's statement was that the best way to help disabled people into work was "not to hide them away in factories". So they just want to close the factories and hide the workers in dole queues instead.
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In The Socialist 9 May 2012:
Socialist Party election analysis
Legitimacy of Cameron and Clegg further shattered
Election results: How did TUSC do?
Con-Dems battered in Scottish local elections
Labour's best Wales result in 21 years will not stop cuts
London elections - TUSC: A marker for future struggles
Coventry: Socialist campaigner Dave Nellist narrowly loses
4,792 mayoral vote for Liverpool 47 candidate
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition local election reports
International socialist news and analysis
France: A weekend that shocked Europe
Greece: Political earthquake sees pro-austerity parties' support collapse
Socialist Party news and analysis
MPs find Murdoch "not fit" to run media empire
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Good result for Socialist Students candidates in NUS elections
Health services at risk in Cardiff and Vale
Privatisation pushes up transport costs in Yorkshire
Care home closures in Sheffield
Police restrict anti-racist protesters in Luton
Socialist Party workplace news
Greenwich libraries - fighting back can win
Exposed: the dirty world of NHS privatisation
Duncan Smith throws insults at Remploy workers
Reviews and comments
Film review: 'Cocaine Unwrapped'
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