Disabled workers reject pay offer

General union GMB has dismissed as “a disgrace” a pay offer from
Remploy, the organisation that employs thousands of disabled
workers across the UK.

A statement from the union said members at Remploy factories across
the UK had voted six to one to reject the company’s pay offer of
£5.50 extra per week. It added that the unions were seeking an
increase of £20 per week, payable to all employees from the
chief executive to the shop floor. Currently it said workers earned
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 and mental disabilities, in about 80 manufacturing plants
across the UK. “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,” said GMB national
officer, Phil Davies.

He said the union was urging Remploy’s chief executive officer,
Roger Paffard, to attend a meeting this week, as it would be the
company’s last chance to produce a suitable pay offer.

“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 their proposal contained many
benefits and had originally been recommended by the union’s
negotiating committee.