Disabled workers, activists and supporters, staged a protest outside Stratford tube station this afternoon against Remploy factory closures that have led to the unemployment of over 1,000 disabled workers.
In their call to action on Facebook, Remploy workers explained:
Last Thursday, 16th August, 25 Remploy Factory Sites were closed. Over 1000 disabled people were thrown out of work!
We intend to hold a peaceful protest and leafleting at Stratford. We want everyone to come and join us!
We ask all the spectators and disabled athletes to support Remploy workers who are the most vulnerable in our society and will face a lifetime of poverty and in some cases isolation!
Those taking part have accused the government of hypocrisy in their celebration of Paralympic athletes, while taking jobs away from hard working disabled people who may struggle to find alternative employment.
Far from the only bone of contention within the Paralympic Games, this week has also seen a number of demonstrations against the involvement of Atos as a sponsor. The French firm are responsible for the means testing of disabled people, and have been accused of serious malpractice, and even the resulting deaths of 1,100 people after failing their employment support allowance assessments.
