29-11-2007

Martyn Jones welcomes statement from the Secretary of State for Wales on Remploy

Today Martyn Jones MP welcomed a statement by Peter Hain MP that thanks to the intervention of trade unions and the government reemploy had kept open an additional 15 factories, including the one based in Wrexham.

The settlement represents a huge success for Martyn and his fellow Welsh Labour MP’s who have been working with Peter Hain on this issue for a large number of years. But most importantly it represents the safeguarding of many, many more jobs for disabled workers.

This settlement does everything it possibly can to save jobs whilst at the same time addressing vital business concerns of Remploy to assure that these factories remain open in the long term.

Mr Jones commented:

“We have known now for awhile that the Wrexham Remploy factory was to be saved but today marks the full details of the proposal. I think we can be exceptionally satisfied with this deal.

This settlement will mean no compulsory redundancies for disabled workers at all. It will result in 15 further factories, which would originally have been closed, remaining open.

Remploy is a central part of Welsh and Wrexham industry and its loss would have been intolerable for local people, workers and all who have an attachment with the area. Today’s statement is a landmark for all who care about Welsh industry, Remploy and its workers.

We will continue to work with Remploy, trade unions and with the Secretary of State to ensure protection of Wrexham’s workers and to assure that this agreement is fully honoured.”