DISABLED workers at Merseyside factories could strike for the first time in their company’s 60-year history over closure and amalgamation plans.

Workers for Remploy in Wirral and Aintree are being balloted for industrial action with the results expected at the end of next week.

They are furious at the decision by Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain who at first appeared to put a block on the closures during last year’s Labour Party conference when he said there would be no closures without ministerial approval.

But late last year it was announced that 28 plants employing more than 1,600 workers would close, after removing 15 from its original closure list.

The scheme would see the closure of both the Aintree and St Helens sites while the Central Cutting Unit in Wallasey would be shut and merged with the Birkenhead factory.

But trade unions said none of the factories should close and even argued they could be expanded if the senior management team at Remploy was replaced.

Last night Paul Bragg, GMB senior steward, said they were so confident of Remploy workers voting for industrial action they have already set out potential dates.

He said: “Remploy have never had a strike in their 60-year history, but these decisions are hitting people with disabilities and some of the most vulnerable in society.

“Peter Hain has said he wants to get people off incapacity benefits and into the workplace – so why has he done this to people who have got off benefits and contributed to our economy? Most of these people could quite genuinely have stayed at home and on benefits.”

Remploy confirmed the trade unions have balloted for strike action in the past, but always unsuccessfully.

A spokeswoman said: “We are implementing the modernisation proposal approved by Peter Hain on November 29, 2007, the aim of which is to quadruple the number of jobs we find for disabled people in mainstream employment. That is 20,000 jobs each and every year.

“We are engaging in individual consultation with all of our employees to ensure they have the support they need and would encourage them to take part in this.

“Employees at the central cutting unit have the option of transferring to the Remploy site next door, or as with the Aintree employees, have the option of remaining on their current Remploy terms and conditions, including final salary pension scheme, working for another local employer, for as long as they wish.

“The company and government have committed there will be no compulsory redundancies.”

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