AM & MP Show Support for Remploy Factory

5.18.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 15th Aug 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat representatives for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams AM and Roger Williams MP last week visited the Remploy Furniture factory in Ystradgynlais in a show of solidarity for the 31 workers whose jobs remain under threat.

Kirsty putting furniture together with Gareth James, Remploy worker in Ystradgynlais

Since news of the threatened closure some months ago Kirsty and Roger have been working together to support the fight against the proposals. Kirsty has met on different occasions with Ystradgynlais Town Council; the Britain's General Union; Remploy and the then Minister for Economic Development and Transport to discuss with each of them the issues and the possible solutions.

Following the visit Kirsty said: ""For more than fifty years the factory has offered rewarding and meaningful employment to those who may otherwise have struggled to enter the mainstream job market and the benefits of this have been many: from providing financial stability and independence through to improved self esteem. For this reason I have repeatedly called upon Remploy to reverse their decision and to look at alternative options."

"I will continue to support the local workforce in their struggle to retain their jobs in the Upper Swansea Valley. I have made representations to Powys County Council on behalf of the Remploy Trade Union Consortium calling upon them for assistance. Indeed I shall be putting my money where my mouth is and purchasing some much needed furniture for my Brecon office from the factory in order to provide some concrete support."

Roger Williams MP reiterated: "Although workers have been told that they may be able to transfer to the Remploy factory in Neath and that assistance packages will be put into practice to assist in finding alternative employment locally, these options may not be suitable for all. I strongly believe that the factory has a vital role to play within the Ystradgynlais community and that the workers deserve a fairer deal. I have made representations to Remploy calling upon them to look again at their proposals."