Disabled workers’ union rejects pay offer

A pay offer from Remploy, the organisation that employs
thousands of disabled workers across the UK, has been rejected by
unions, writes Alex Dobson.

Trade union the GMB said that members at Remploy factories
across the United Kingdom have voted six to one to reject the
company’s pay offer of an extra £5.50 per week. It said
unions were seeking an offer of £20 per week payable to all
employees from the chief executive to the shop floor. Currently it
says that workers earn an average of £5.50 an hour or
£10,000 per year.

The company employs 5,700 shop floor workers, with a range of
physical disabilities and learning difficulties in about 80
manufacturing plants across the UK.

GMB national officer Phil Davies said: “Our members
deserve a decent pay rise. Just because they are disabled
doesn’t mean that they are cheap labour. They deserve respect
and this offer is a disgrace.”

“If the company won’t negotiate, we will have no
option but to seek an industrial action mandate from our
members,” he said.

A spokesperson for Remploy said the proposal contained many
benefits, and had originally been recommended by the union
negotiating committee.