Guide to withdrawal of Labour from Remploy Factories (Strike Action) The Company has pushed the Trade Union

Members into withdrawal of Labour because they have not carried out meaningful consultation. This means an official ballot has taken place and Union Members of GMB & Unite can now withdraw their labour without suffering detriment from Remploy Management or the DWP. The Community Union will know their results on the 13th July; they are slightly behind because their rules meant they had to hold a consultative ballot first before their secret Ballot. It is unfortunate that Remploy were not able to provide meaningful consultation, this was due in part to the DWP and Government calling the shots. In the absence of any other advice or guidance from Your Trade Union Officials, please use this guide. Hopefully we have answered your questions. What is a strike? A strike is the withdrawal of Labour. Your contract of employment means you do a days work for a days pay. During a strike you temporarily withdraw your labour for the time period agreed i.e. one day. We are allowed to peacefully picket entrances to the workplace and people can stand around and observe. It is just like being on the demos that most people have been on but is at your workplace. What does picket mean? We are allowed to have 6 pickets at each entrance to challenge people who wish to cross the picket line and go into the Factory. If you are on picket duty, you should wear an arm band (made of material/ cardboard etc) and stop people and ask them why they want to cross the picket line and go into the Remploy factory, explain to them why we have withdrawn our labour and the consequences of what will happen if Remploy Factories close down. You should not be violent towards people. Employment services have already said they will make provision for their people to work elsewhere during the days of action and not ask their people to cross picket lines. Will I get paid? Not from Remploy. As you are not doing your days work you do not get a days pay. The Unite union pays strike pay of up to 30 per day from day one. The GMB pays strike pay of up to 30 per day from day 3 however the GMB have set up a hardship fund to compensate loss of earnings for low paid, vulnerable workers i.e. Remploy Workers. Why the consortium has decided to take strike action? The Consortium has a mandate to protect Remploy workers and highlight concerns raised by Remploy members. The DWP could talk to you, the Unions and avert the withdrawal of labour if it so wished. Remploy will close unless the campaign highlights to the public the disgrace of closing factories and throwing disabled people on to the scrap heap. 1

The vote for action not including strike action was a bigger vote why not do that first? The Consortium has called for action short of strike action with a continuous Overtime ban from the 12th July onwards. This action may get the attention of the DWP who could head off the withdrawal of Labour days by meeting with the Consortium. The planned days are 24 hour withdrawls from 6am on the 19th July and 26th July. Can the people who withdraw their Labour be bullied by management and supervisors? It is against the law to detriment members who have voted for the legal right to take part in demonstrations and picket lines for 12 weeks you can claim against Remploy Management and Supervisors if they harass/ bully/call names/ pick on you in any way. My factory is on shutdown on the days chosen for action will I lose money? If your factory is on shutdown, you are paid holiday pay as normal as you cannot withdraw your labour if you are on holiday. Can I take holiday instead of taking action and withdrawing my Labour? Yes you can but why would you want to? It means you will miss the demo and give up a paid holiday you could take later or be paid for. Your Unions will give either pay or hardship funding up to 30 per day. Your normal pay is subject to NI & PAYE (tax & Insurance) so the net loss is less 25% (you would have paid 25% NI/PAYE). Skill Grades Grade T Grade A Grade B Grade C Grade D Grade E (Intro Rate) Hourly Rate 8.1794 7.8171 7.5914 7.2868 7.1057 6.0737 8 hours pay - 25% NI/PAYE 65.43 16.34 = 49.09 62.54 15.63 = 46.91 60.73 15.18 = 45.55 58.29 14.57 = 43.72 56.85 14.21 = 42.64 48.59 12.15 = 36.44

Holidays would be subject to Remploys normal rules of either shutdowns or 10 15% rules of your site. You will forfeit pay of between 6.44 E grade and 19.09 for T grade for the entire day (staff may be slightly more) because the Unions will give 30 towards your losses. Remember, at present you will lose your job if the factory closes and the Company has not offered any enhanced redundancy pay other than the accord. You have to take action to fight for your livelihood or an enhanced redundancy package of 5000 minimum extra. What if we dont take action now we have voted? You will be sending a clear message to the DWP that your job doesnt matter for either you or for future generations and that you will accept whatever else is thrown at you. Be strong and stand up for your rights.

What do we need for a successful day? You should have: A Brazier to keep warm and umbrellas to keep dry. A sandwich board with official action poster on it (available from every region). 2 hi-vis vests for 2 official stewards to look after the action and keep observers safe (off the roads etc). Armbands for pickets (up to 6 each entrance) and swap the pickets over so other people get a shift. Chairs to sit on for people with mobility/ leg issues. Ask Managers for access to toilets/welfare facilities these should not be withheld as we are also fighting for the factory managers jobs along with our own. Can I go on the sick instead of taking action? You can go sick if you are genuinely sick and not able to work. You may leave yourself open to accusations of not being genuinely sick and falsely claiming sick pay/ SSP from Remploy/ DWP. You should not take sick leave to avoid taking action. This is your chance to fight for your job.