Remploy rapped over gong and bonuses

The GMB has responded angrily after Bob Warner, former chief executive of disabled employer Remploy, was made a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours. Mr Warner, who retired as chief executive of the state-owned company last November, presided over a programme to close 28 factories and lay off some 2,500 workers, partly in defiance of Government promises. Remploy also paid its directors and managers record bonuses of £1.77 million last year – an increase of 483 per cent since 2000, the GMB revealed this week.

by Tribune Web Editor
Thursday, June 18th, 2009

by Rene Lavanchy

The GMB has responded angrily after Bob Warner, former chief executive of disabled employer Remploy, was made a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours. Mr Warner, who retired as chief executive of the state-owned company last November, presided over a programme to close 28 factories and lay off some 2,500 workers, partly in defiance of Government promises. Remploy also paid its directors and managers record bonuses of £1.77 million last year – an increase of 483 per cent since 2000, the GMB revealed this week.

The union has often accused Remploy management of incompetence and general secretary Paul Kenny once called for Mr Warner to resign. He enjoyed a £197,100 pay package in 2007-08.

Les Woodward, convenor of the joint Remploy trade union consortium and a long-standing campaigner against the factory closures, said: “The whole concept of Bob Warner being rewarded for services to disabled people is offensive to disabled people… It’s rewarding failure. He has put two and a half thousand disabled people on the scrapheap.”

In a statement, Remploy said: “Last year’s bonus payments reflect the effort and commitment of Remploy staff as the company went through the biggest transformation in its history.” More than 300 people shared the bonuses, they added.

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  • Harry Manchester

    The fact that 300 people shared bonuses for making disabled qworkers unemployed does not make the act any more acceptable.
    These 300 individuals were all senior management who were jointly responsible for the success of the business.
    As an unemployed disabled person who lost his job (and risks losing his home) as a result of the so called modernisation, I am disgusted and deeply hurt that Mr Warner should receive a honour for his actions.

  • Harry Manchester

    The fact that 300 people shared bonuses for making disabled qworkers unemployed does not make the act any more acceptable.
    These 300 individuals were all senior management who were jointly responsible for the success of the business.
    As an unemployed disabled person who lost his job (and risks losing his home) as a result of the so called modernisation, I am disgusted and deeply hurt that Mr Warner should receive a honour for his actions.

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