Some of the Barking Remploy staff who face redundancy

Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas has strongly criticised the government’s decision to close Remploy Barking as dozens of disabled people are set to lose their jobs.

The government-owned company announced yesterday that it will close 27 of its 54 factories, including the Barking facility, between August and December this year.

Around 50 staff based at the Longreach Road factory in Barking are likely to join the dole queue along with 1,400 of their colleagues from Remploy factories around the country.

Remploy said that the decision followed a “formal collective consultation on the potential factory closures and associated risk of redundancy for up to 1,752 employees”.

However, the Unite and GMB unions who represent 2,800 Remploy workers have last week announced two 24-hour-strikes on July 19 and July 26 to protest against closures and redundancy deals.

Mr Cruddas, who in the past has promised support to Remploy workers, said the decision to close the sites was “disappointing”.

He added: “I am in full support of the workers of Remploy and their families because when these factories close there is no doubt in my mind that disabled employees in the present economic climate will struggle greatly to find alternative employment.

“I have visited Remploy on many occasions and have seen first hand what amazing work is undertaken there. This factory is more than just a workplace. It has a sense of community about it.

“I have been in constant communications with Remploy workers and unions involved and we will continue to fight this disgraceful decision.”

The government insists that the factories are not financially viable. The Department for Work and Pensions wants to use the £320million budget for disability employment to get disabled people into mainstream employment through the Access to Work programme instead.