Action threat at Remploy

Talks collapse over 1pc rise

MORE than 100 workers at the Remploy factory at Bardsley could take part in industrial action after talks broke down over national pay rises.

Pay talks between Remploy trade unions and the company have collapsed over the company’s refusal to pay a one per cent pay rise as a flat rate payment to all 3,000 staff and managers.

Phil Davies, the GMB union general secretary, speaking on behalf of all trade unions with Remploy staff as members, said: “Trade unions and their members appreciate difficult trading conditions but find it hard to accept that over 400 managers will receive between three and six per cent times the monetary amount of increase.

“Why should disabled workers be offered a miserly £2.50 a week when some managers will receive over £20 per week increase?”

A consultative ballot of Remploy members resulted in a 4-1 majority rejection of the terms offered by management.

The Remploy Consortium described Remploy’s response as “derisory, unfair and unacceptable” saying the offer as “inferior” to the Government’s guidelines.