Wrexham Remploy Workers Prepare For Factory’s Last Day

Employees at Wrexham’s Remploy factory are preparing for their last day at work tomorrow.

Despite being asked to re-submit their bid, a private company failed in their attempts to keep the furniture factory open after it was turned down by the UK government and Remploy board last week.

Now, 41 disabled workers face redundancy with the Railway Road site due to close its doors for the final time tomorrow.

Local politicians, Remploy staff and members of the public have all fought hard to try and save the factory in recent months with solidarity marches and a petition held.

It was one of 36 of the company’s businesses earmarked for closure after the Remploy Board proposed a series of significant changes to its operations as a result of the UK government’s decision to reduce funding for the firm.

The government accepted the recommendations of the Sayce Review which suggested that in future, government funding should be used to maximise support for disabled people rather than subsidise organisations like Remploy.

Paying tribute to the workers Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said: “I am very sorry that it has come to this. The government has chosen to put more than forty people out of work, despite their factory having a firm willing to take over and a long-term, major contract with Wrexham County Borough Council in the offing.

“The workers fought for their factory with the people of Wrexham behind them. They deserve nothing but praise.

“The minister responsible for Remploy, Maria Miller, wrote to MPs last week about the sale of Remploy sites. I will be pushing the government to ensure that any sale and its proceeds will be used to benefit people with disabilities in Wrexham.”

A Remploy spokesperson said: “Around 90% of the employees at 23 of the 27 sites earmarked for closure are being made redundant this week. This varies from site to site depending on requirements of the business. Wrexham is one of these 23 sites, so many staff will be leaving tomorrow.”