Disabled staff set for pay strike

Unions at Remploy, the government-supported employer of disabled people, are to ballot staff for industrial action over pay. A second offer was rejected last month.

Union reps told the minister for disabled people, Maria Eagle, that Britain's largest supported employer is being "mismanaged". They say the company has continued to decline while the number of directors and their pay has increased.

The consortium of Remploy unions, which includes GMB, KFAT, GPMU and the TGWU, says 300 jobs have not materialised, while more senior, mainly non-disabled, staff have been taken on.

Consortium secretary Phil Davies said: "The fat cats grow fatter under the nose of the government who fund Remploy to employ disabled people."

The consortium is concerned that Remploy's government funding has been frozen for eight years, despite spiralling costs. However, the company received an extra £18 million cash injection this year and the consortium has called for a consultation to ensure it is used to improve conditions for employees.