Remploy closing 36 of 54 factories, 1700 disabled people out of work

[bananaistheanswer]

here

WTAF? Fucking tories. 1700 disabled people thrown on the dole, so they can be added to the scrum that is the employment market (ha, some fucking market, there's no fucking jobs) rather than, you know, employ them. And of course it'll be a doddle for them to get a job now eh?

Seriously, that Maria Miller is getting on my tits. She's bullshitted her way through the CSA fuck up, and now it's deemed preferable to put people who were earning a wage for a worthwhile job, onto the dole where the money spent on employing people will now just go to fucking slave labour schemes, and benefits.

Didn't hear this news. Very sad news. They only made a loss of about 68 million in a recession. That works out as a loss of about £4000 for each of the 1700 employees that will lose their jobs. What will it cost now that they are out of work? If they had held on until the economy recovers in a few years' time, then the loss would not be so great and it might have been a profit.

Sorry it is about £40,000 per employee. But I still think that one of the richest countries in the world could afford that loss in hard times.

The programme of Remploy closures was begun by Labour.

The various news channels have had spokespeople from relevant charities welcoming the continuation of the existing policy, on the grounds that more people can be helped more effectively in ways other than supporting loss-making factories. The funding will continue.

I can't believe that they have been making such losses for each of the past 20 years or changes would have been made sooner. Is it just the recession that is responsible for these large losses?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1356457/Iain-Duncan-Smith-snub-bosses-ahead-1-5m-bonus.html

This is terrible news, although as someone said upthread it is a planned move. I've had professional dealings with one of the Remploy businesses in the past (book binding) and the product was excellent.

Personally, I feel that some enterprises are worth subsidising in a civilised society, and that there is a place for the dignity and experience of productive work being made possible for those who want it - even if it is not profitable. I'm so sorry that skilled people are losong their jobs.

I appreciate that this may be a minority view.

Losing. Wretched phone.

Agree, RedRosie and I bet it is the majority view.

It looks like EdithWeston is right that the job losses began under Labour. It seems that 2500 people lost their jobs in 2008.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-545268/Sports-cars-perk-Remploy-bosses-sacked-thousands-disabled-staff.html

Can't the government award some contracts to Remploy instead of other firms?

I will write to my (Tory and probably not in the least bit bothered) London MP, and look forward to an answer including the words "deficit" and "value for money" and "we are all in it together."

Write to yours Banana. It won't help and you probably won't feel any better - but you will have been counted.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-493177/1-600-disabled-workers-jobs-axed-Remploy-closes-28-factories.html

I saw this too . I actually had to leave the room for a moment as Maria Miller came on the news.

What I don't understand is how on earth they are going to get people with disabilites into 'normal' companies. I had enough bloody problems staying employed when I had depression, let alone a long term disability, my employer at the time couldn't have cared less about my health.

Unless they want them to be workfare fodder .

Claig - piss your MP off with a letter about this. They have to respond.

You too Meglet. Annoy your MP. They have to answer constituent's letters/emails.

It won't change anything. :-(

red my MP is Maria Miller. She's my penpal .

And she just trots out the party line in every letter, totally unable to enter into a dialogue at all. She couldn't care less.

Blimey. Respect! I thought mine was bad.

Do write. She has to respond. Hopefully all enquiries/issues are recorded.

'But in 2006, the government - which funds Remploy - announced that cuts were to be made and factories would close.

Changing attitudes

It argued that this was not just a cost cutting measure, though Remploy was losing money, but that changing attitudes mean many disabled people prefer to work in mainstream employment, rather than the sheltered employment that Remploy offers.

Controversially, some charities supported Remploy's plans - among them Mencap and Scope, who said disabled people were more likely to lead fulfilling lives by working in an "inclusive environment".'

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7735264.stm

The workers and unions even met with ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

I don't know if writing to MPs will be able to change anything.

But Gordon Brown supports Remploy and has written to Maria Miller.

www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Fife/article/17941/former-pm-gordon-brown-backing-remploy.html

Ummm.

Write anyway. Write to Gordon Brown as well.

Attitudes may have "changed" but these are worthwhile, productive and in my experience quality jobs. I'm happy to subsidise them as I feel that this sheltered environment is worth providing ... Where are the jobs - in 2012 - for these people?

Not everything is about profit.

I agree. Gordon seems to have written in October 2011, so maybe not with much effect.

I don't buy the argument that "attitudes have changed" and I bet the employees didn't either. But whoi are we anyway.

I think it would be worthwhile trying to find out what became of the 2500 who lost their jobs in 2008, just so we can establish how these people have fared in the employment market. If any journos are reading this, please do some digging and find out just how 'successful' the 2500 from 2008 have been in securing mainstream employment.

In general I don't like seeing loss making firms continually subsidised by the taxpayer. It doesn't make for efficient enterprise.

But Remploy isn't a 'normal company' and whilst I understand the arguments about maybe it's better to have disabled people working in mainstream employment, right now they stand little/no chance of finding work.

So if this is a cost cutting measure then it's short sighted. I understand the principle, just the timings shit.

I doubt it can be a cost cutting measure: all funds released are to be used to support the employment of disabled workers. So no money being taken away.

The charities continue to support it, because they can see better use for the money and have done all along.

I think it is wrong to bash Tories for a Labour issue especially when supported by relevant charities. (Obviously I don't mean 'don't oppose this policy' especially if you have opposed it since 2006, just pointing out that it's not a Tory-only issue).

Will the letter-writers also be writing to the charities?

I will, yes. I don't blame the Tories but I do blame the government and complained - uselessly obviously - against the last round of closures at a time when I was dealing directly with one of the businesses involved.

There are people in these factories - currently earning a wage, contributing to society with their consequent spending and taxes, with work (work they can do, work which is sometimes of a very tailored nature) and structure in their lives - who will find it difficult in the extreme to find other employment, especially in this environment. Some may never work again.

I will, yes. I don't blame the Tories but I do blame the government and complained - uselessly obviously - against the last round of closures at a time when I was dealing directly with one of the businesses involved.

There are people in these factories - currently earning a wage, contributing to society with their consequent spending and taxes, with work (work they can do, work which is sometimes of a very tailored nature) and structure in their lives - who will find it difficult in the extreme to find other employment, especially in this environment. Some may never work again.

Oops.