Disabled workers will stage a second 24-hour strike today in protest at Government plans to close their factories. Credit: PA
Disabled workers will stage a second 24-hour strike today in protest at Government plans to close their factories.
Staff at Remploy sites across Britain will walk out for a second time after a "successful" stoppage last week.
Employees from factories in Poole and Southampton, which are threatened with closure, will join the industrial action.
The workers have received thousands of messages of support since launching a campaign against the closures, according to unions.
Remploy said almost 40% of its 54 factories worked normally during last week's strike.
A spokesman said: "Significant numbers of employees turned up to work as normal and the company thanks them for their commitment. We deplore attempts to intimidate employees who want to work."
VIDEO: There are three Remploy factories in our region - at Poole, Southampton and Portsmouth. The factories at Poole and Portsmouth are thought to be able to survive without Government help. However, the factory at Southampton is loss-making and will close before the end of the year.
The closure of 27 Remploy factories is an abdication of the Government's responsibility to disabled workers, Labour says.
Shadow work and pensions minister Anne McGuire said ministers should have delayed the announcement for longer, giving workers at the 54 factories considered for closure longer to come up with viable business plans.
They believe ministers should have delayed for longer, giving workers longer to come up with viable business plans.
The Remploy factory in Southampton is due to close, whilst Poole's factory is being seen as a potentially viable business plan, so it'll be subject to further consultation.
Demonstrations are to be held in protest against plans to close factories with disabled workers. Remploy will stop production at its sites in Southampton and Poole - along with 34 others across the country. The Government run scheme says the money saved will help disabled people find work.
