27 disabled Plymouth workers face redundancy
A FACTORY that employs disabled people in Plymouth is set to close with the loss of 27 jobs.
Pluss plans to close its Southway manufacturing plant, and is blaming the loss of £150,000 a year in funding from Plymouth City Council as well as the recession.
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Yesterday, workers outside the factory, which employs people with a range of disabilities, reacted angrily, saying Pluss had not invested in the facility for years.
Operative Steve Dent, 35, said: “The government is currently pushing for disabled people to go into employment, yet here is a council withdrawing its funding.
“Half of these guys won’t be able to find a job in mainstream employment.”
Mr Dent said being in employment meant a lot to workers at the factory.
“I was long-term unemployed before this, and a lot of other people were. A hell of a lot of people have something to get up for every day, a focus, and a little bit of money to have a social life without completely relying on benefits,” he said.
Pluss is a social enterprise that supports around 600 people with disabilities in Plymouth into work each year, both directly and through a range of employment services.
It is entering into consultations to cut its Plymouth workforce from 41 to 14 staff, with further job losses at Exeter, Torbay, Barnstable and Bridgwater, and plans to close the Southway factory in October.
In a statement, the company said its sales from manufacturing were down by 30 per cent, and that its supported employment contract with Plymouth City Council expires at the end of March and will not be renewed.
A council spokeswoman said: “We have been in discussions with Pluss for some time on whether or not the Southway unit is the best way of helping people who need our support in finding employment.
Besides this, it has become evident in recent months that the unit is no longer commercially viable in the current economic climate.”
She said that the council would instead be investing £800,000 to enable Pluss to continue to develop “more flexible and appropriate services, tailored to the particular needs of individuals”.
Michael Auguste, campaign manager for the Community union that represents Pluss workers, said Plymouth was the only council taking this approach.
“It’s not a very good advert for Plymouth,” he said. “With Remploy gone, supported employment could be a thing of the past. It leaves disabled people in Plymouth in a very precarious position.”
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by Harry, Oblivion
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:14PM
“Hello Phil and Ken!
Nice to know that we ex Remploy employees have not been wiped completely from your memories.
It appears that we no longer warrant a regular space on the GMB website. Have we been written off as a lost cause?. Our misery goes on.
Please could you let us know if you plan any significant action.
Pictures of daffodils and Consortium members dressed up as Jedi on the GMB website just not good enough!”
by Kenneth Stubbs, newton aycliffe
Friday, March 12 2010, 9:39AM
“There are indeed many simarities to the situation in Remploy we continue to fight against.
The Gov stupid premise that supported employment for disabled people needs to apply only to those fit for work is leading to these scandalous situations all over the country.
Ineffect those people in society who are considered to be weak areas such as disabled and elderly are attacked time and time again.
Whilst the rich bankers and their cohorts are endlessly propped up at our expense. (taxpayers).
Disabled people want to be part of society not cast aside in such a manner.
So what can we do to right this wrong?
The bottom line is always money anfdd the gov councils and organisations are saying costs too much. Fair enough, all that proves is that the entire supported employment programme is vastly underfunded. It is this which needs to be put right first.
I urge all those who belive that we should look after the weak in our society pepper as many Mps as they can to do this utmost to increase the funding available for supported employment workshops etc.
they will want your vote soon let them know how they can get it!
Kenneth Stubbs
Remploy”
by Concerned, Plymouth
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:09PM
“Speaking as an employee, I can reveal that the Southway site is being run down, the company is overloaded with managers and had tried to impose short term working on certain individuals before dropped at the end of last year. On the subject of the reported numbers (41 to 14) for Plymouth, half of the latter would consist of seven operatives.”
by Phil Brannan, Glasgow
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:19AM
“This decision to close yet another factory employing disabled people iS an utter disgrace. Remploy Britians largest employer of disabled peope closed 29 factories made 2.500 disabled people redundant in 2008 a union survey shows that the vast majority are still unemployed and that those who have found new employment are in lower paid wotk with worse terms and conditions. We can support the banks who caused this economic down turn but not the disabled who are to suffer consiquences of their greed and incompetance their stupid policies and massive bonuses . It is obscene the fourth weathest country in the world is condeming the disable to a life time of umemployment poverty and social exclusion. i suggest that those making this decision look to the good work carried out in Aberdeen to save the jobs of the disabled workers in Glencraft industries that was threatened with closure last year Phil Brannan senior GMB steward and convener Remploy Scotland”
by Steve, Mutley
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 10:45PM
“Empty words Alison. These people, some of the most vulnerable in our society, need the support of this Labour government and they need it NOW.
They do not want to be left to rot on benefits.
They want to be part of this society.”
by Words Just, Don't add up
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 7:41PM
“And they call the Conservatives the nasty party?
Labour bailed out the greedy, incompetent banks yet they contined to reduce services and support for the disbaled for years.
Remploy? Where are those people now? There you go Herald, time for a follow up story on those thrown on the scrapheap by the closure of the Remploy factories?”
by Pounds, shillings and pence, Unfair Britain
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 7:34PM
“Labour don't protect the most vulnerable do they?
It's the same as the closure of the Remploy factories isn't it?
Shouldn't we have more protected jobs for the diabled given those coming back from conflicts abroad in pieces?
It's all down to costs isn't it? The same as sending our troops to war without the correct kit.”
by Concerned, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 7:25PM
“This is a huge loss. That's probably the cost of some MP's expense claims going in this year.......SHAME ON YOU PCC & GOVERNMENT, BOO!
Disabled people find life hard enough without losing this valuable resource, it's shameful & a wickedly cruel blow to those on the margins of society. A kick in the teeth.”
by Pamela Pinder, plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 7:12PM
“While I am sure you are doing your best Alison, the facts are there isn't enough support for the disabled to find work. Even though the government are pushing for people with disabilities to get work, for people who are vulnerable by reason of learning disabilities or mental illness. It might make the figures on paper look better when these people are placed on JSA and being threatened that they will lose their benefits or have them reduced if they do not actively seek work. Many of these people are affected by their condition in such away they either do not have the confidence or their symptoms have more power over them than receiving no benifits have.”
by Alison Seabeck MP, Westminster
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 6:48PM
“The loss of the City COuncil's contracts dealt a huge blow to PLUSS. I have been involved with all parties trying to prevent the closure of Southway and to find out why the contracts ended and were given to a company based outside of Plymouth. PLUSS support a number of my constituents, some who may go into mainstream work but some who cannot or do not have the confidence to take that step. I know the trade unions have been working to try and save thejobs. We have to ensure that if the outcome is job losses that full support is put in place for some very vulnerable people.”