Successful Occupation of Remploy Offices in Leicester
Today eight recently sacked Remploy workers and union reps occupied the company’s head office in Leicester in a bid to force a recalcitrant management to the table to discuss the ongoing attacks on disabled workers. After having no joy talking on the phone to Remploy executive director of finance Nigel Hopkins, the occupiers finally succeeded having their demands met when the Tory Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller (‘The Factory Killer’) agreed to organize a meeting with union officials. With this victory under their belt the valiant eight ended the occupation after some four hours.
Les Woodwood, the National Convenor of the Remploy Trade Union Consortium said: “We are leaving now because we have achieved movement which has been refused for months. We will have these discussions but if they do not produce proper responses we will be returning to more direct action.”
Not content to rest on their laurels Remploy workers are now keeping up their offensive against the government and their bosses, calling for support for their next planned protest action on 29th August at 1 pm at the Olympic Park, which just happens to be the opening day of the Paralympic Games. This will be followed by a week-long strike action kicking off on 3 September at two factories that are currently being sold-off by Remploy (one located in Chesterfield, England, and the other in Springburn, Scotland).
Leicester Socialist Party comrades lent their support to the occupation and shortly after it ended Steve Score interviewed Les Woodward about the occupiers successful days work.
For other assorted reports and interviews from today’s action, see:
Remploy workers occupy company head office over closures dispute.
Remploy occupation disperses after DWP talks promise.
Inside Remploy occupation – ‘we’re not going till we get some answers.’
Phil Davies, GMB Union National Secretary talks about what the occupation achieved today.
Former Remploy workers in protest at Leicester headquarters (Leicester Mercury).
Remploy occupation – “They had to speak to us, after dodging us for months.”
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