Iain Duncan Smith 'insults' disabled workers at factory facing the axe

IDS did not realise when he visited factory that many of the workers were about to lose their jobs

Clueless Tory Iain Duncan Smith made a campaign visit to a business yesterday – apparently not realising it is set to make scores of workers jobless.

The Work and Pensions Secretary visited a social enterprise which helps thousands of people with disabilities find jobs.

But two of its factories face the axe – partly thanks to Conservative cuts.

Labour’s Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw said: “What an insult for Iain Duncan Smith to visit without speaking to staff and ignorant of the fact they’re losing their jobs. Some have worked there since the 1970s and will find it impossible to find other jobs.”

The ex-Tory leader visited the Pluss HQ in Exeter, Devon, which is facing closure along with a site in Bridgwater, Somerset. Back office staff could also go, leading to 75 job losses.

Its plant in the city makes cushions for wheelchairs and car upholstery.

But it faces closure, along with another in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Back office staff could also be made redundant, leading to a total of 75 job losses.

Many of the factory workers have disabilities or learning difficulties. Bosses fear they would struggle to find employment elsewhere.

Mr Gallin, of the Community Union, said: “Workers are devastated they face losing their jobs.

“It will be incredibly difficult for them to find another job, if not impossible.

“These are very vulnerable people who come here not only to work, but to meet people.”

Mr Gallin, who has worked for Pluss for 28 years, added: “If Iain Duncan Smith had come here and seen for himself how this factory runs, maybe it would have helped.”

Pluss, which is owned by four councils in the south west - Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay - said in a statement: “We are a ‘social firm’ and as such over 50% of our staff have a disability.

“Due to accumulation of a range of changes in commercial contracts and funding from local authorities, the company has commenced consultations on a range of proposals that deal with the challenges these pose.

“These include the potential closure of our manufacturing operations in Marsh Barton, Exeter and Huntworth Gate in Bridgwater, and rationalisation of corporate services.

“These proposals could result in up to 75 redundancies. The company will be looking to achieve these reductions through voluntary means wherever possible.

“These changes are aimed at increasing the number of people we support each year through more effective use of resources.

“As with all changes, Pluss recognises this will be bad news for those staff affected and we intend to put in place a range of mechanisms to support staff through this difficult period.”

Mr Duncan Smith’s spokeswoman said: “Iain and Dom met with disabled people who have been supported into work by Pluss - an organisation doing fantastic work in the local area.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-insults-disabled-5437646

Is it actually possible for him to get more clueless?

It was sometimes good when I walked around in the world with my eyes wideshut being totally oblivious to this breed of filth.

IDS is just another typical tory.
The only difference is that he is too stupid to be able to mask his natural nastiness and hatred of the sick and the poor..
Cameron, Osborne, May Hunt and Gove are just more subtle, albeit they still have the same inbuilt gene.
80 years ago, it is not difficult to work.out which infamous party they would have supported.

I presume that IDS had to arrange the visit, or was invited, so why did they not tell him then about the closures?

It was insensitive in the extreme -trying to get the plaudits of how great he is and how well everyone is doing under this government, to an audience who are being decimated by the austerity measures of the same government.
You couldn't make it up.
Poor research or not, IDS simply doesn'tcare.

No one told him, it's obvious. But the lefties on here wouldn't miss a chance to spread more bull shit. andy pandy is always the one to jump on the band wagon any chance he gets. he is a big "cock".

It's his job as a minister to know about every company he visits, he should have asked for an update before he went, the fact that he didn't bother says it all.

risingsun wrote:It's his job as a minister to know about every company he visits, he should have asked for an update before he went, the fact that he didn't bother says it all.

Well presumably they didn't bother to tell him either. If he was invited, why was he invited?

It most definitely is not a non issue in my book. They closed Remploy who were the other people employing mentally and physically disabled people and he was going there specifically to say what a good job this company are doing for the disabled. The fact he didn't bother to make sure he knew what was going on at the company and went there to praise them is gross incompetence, but that has been his signature tune, he has lost approx £1.25 BILLION of taxpayers money already:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smiths-benefits-chaos-4422016

It does say that redundancies will be voluntary if possible. Many companies have to make such decisions because of competition and the economy. I don't recall the general public caring much when I and others had to accept redundancy from jobs we loved, so ...

That's what they always say, cover themselves by saying 'if possible' when they know that those people won't get a job anywhere else.

risingsun wrote:That's what they always say, cover themselves by saying 'if possible' when they know that those people won't get a job anywhere else.  

That applies to any situation. Maybe some people don't want another job.

Sorry to sound a bit disgruntled, but I'm constantly reading about how we should all be concerned about job losses, and yet nobody cared when I was made redundant along with others - we just had to fend for ourselves, like most people. This was many years ago of course, but I still remember how much I liked that job.

Re them not wanting another job: What?  Ah, that will be why they are so upset at losing these, when they have such trouble getting a job in the first place because they are disabled.  LOL

I doubt many people haven't been made redundant from a job they liked at some point, but most don't have the trouble getting another one that mentally and physically disabled people do.   And then of course, when they have to claim benefit, they are the ones who get sanctioned the most for things a lot of them have trouble understanding.

risingsun wrote:Re them not wanting another job: What?  Ah, that will be why they are so upset at losing these, when they have such trouble getting a job in the first place because they are disabled.  LOL

I doubt many people haven't been made redundant from a job they liked at some point, but most don't have the trouble getting another one that mentally and physically disabled people do.   And then of course, when they have to claim benefit, they are the ones who get sanctioned the most for things a lot of them have trouble understanding.

Well the union chap said they were devastated, but he doesn't speak for them all. Disabled people do get a lot of help re benefits, so I doubt they'll starve or become homeless.

How do you know that most people don't have trouble finding another job. We're constantly being told that there are no jobs out there. I don't personally agree with that, but do you think that non-disabled people can just walk into another job?

I know that you champion disabled people in particular, but many people get upset about many things, and they don't get the help that disabled people get.