Redundancy quotes anger
WORKERS at Tees Valley factories employing disabled people have reacted angrily after receiving redundancy quotations, even though talks are ongoing over the sites’ futures.
Letters detailing provisional redundancy packages were issued to workers at the 43 Remploy factories proposed for closure around Christmas time, as staff prepared to vote on industrial action.
Up to 140 staff at sites at Oakesway Business Park, Hartlepool and Alberto Street, Stockton received the letters.
Val Scott, GMB union regional organiser for the North-east said workers at the Hartlepool factory were angry with the company for issuing the notices in an attempt to influence their decision over strike action.
She said: “After receiving the figures, workers ripped them up and put them in the bin, because there was no agreement to issue redundancy figures.”
“We feel they are trying to ensure a “no” vote in the ballot for industrial action.”
She added that Remploy was trying to “pre-empt something that had not been agreed on,” as there had been no redundancy packages agreed between the company and the union.
A Remploy spokesman said: “Senior managers have visited every site to brief employees on the ballot and explain the consequences of a “yes” vote.
“As part of the process, following numerous requests from individuals at affected sites, provisional redundancy quotations, not notices, were prepared for all employees on affected sites.
“Managers were expressly instructed not to distribute these provisional quotations unless they were requested by the individual.”
Phil Davies, national officer of the GMB, emptied copies of the letter onto the floor of the TUC Congress in Brighton yesterday after condemning them as “shameful”.
He attacked the management of Remploy as well as the Government over its handling of the future of the factories.
