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From: The Socialist issue 714, 18 April 2012: Strike on 10 May! Vote TUSC on 3 May!

Search site for keywords: Disabled - Remploy - London - Cuts - National Shop Stewards Network

Disabled people fighting back

Neil Cafferky

The Con-Dem attacks on the welfare state and workers' rights bear down particularly heavily on disabled people.

Disabled people have suffered a double attack as services they depend on to allow them to participate in everyday life are cut. The government's supposed solution involves farming those services out to the private sector.

However in a cruel twist, many of the benefits that disabled people could have used to partly pay for these services are being cut back or withdrawn entirely. Many people will be forced to rely on charity organisations. In these circumstances the old disabled movement slogan of 'rights, not charity' is coming back on the agenda.

At the same time, disabled people in work are also under attack with the announcement of the closure of 36 Remploy factories employing 1,752 people, 1,518 of whom are disabled.

These attacks are being met with a determined fightback by disabled campaign groups and trade unions representing Remploy workers.

On 18 April Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) held a protest in London to highlight their opposition to cuts.

On Thursday, the next day, there is a joint meeting between the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN), Right to Work and DPAC as part of a campaign to stop the closure of Remploy factories. NSSN and Socialist Party member Les Woodward, chair of the GMB Remploy group will be one of the speakers. 7.30pm, ULU, Malet Street, London WC1.

The following day at noon, Unite are organising a protest outside the offices of the DWP headquarters on Tothill Street, central London, as part of their campaign against the closures.

Finally on 26 April Unite will be organising a public meeting where Remploy workers will put the case for the positive impact continued operation of the factories have on their lives.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.