Scottish furniture factory that employed blind people, disabled people set to close

From STV news in Scotland:

Around 30 disabled or blind workers are set to lose their jobs after an Aberdeen, Scotland furniture factory announced it is to go into liquidation.

The Glencraft factory has had a troubled recent history after Aberdeen City Council withdrew its funding package last year.

But the Authority agreed to buy the firm's factory and lease it back allowing them to continue trading.

Two weeks ago the company contacted the council and asked them not to consider the latest rescue plan for the firm.

On Friday, the company’s directors said they had no choice but to call in the administrators.

Glencraft worker and campaigner Andrew Laing said: “I’m angry and disappointed that it’s come to this. This company’s been going for 150 years and this council, in its wisdom has decided that it’s time for it to close.

“They (the council) can say it wasn’t them that made the decision, it was Glencraft’s board, but they forced our hand.

An emotional Glencraft Chairman Ed Gillespie said: “I’m disappointed that it’s come to this – having to go into liquidation. These blind and disabled people are most probably going to lose their jobs. Some of them are unlikely to work again. It’s a devastating day for the city of Aberdeen.”

“Every other city in Scotland has a blind and disabled workshop supported by council grants, but we don’t.

Council Enterprise Convener Kate Dean Aberdeen City Council says it has done everything it can do to support Glencraft. She said: “My conscience is absolutely clear and the council’s conscience is clear. We’ve made grants and payments totalling £7million to Glencraft since 1999.

“We had a rescue package which we had worked on which the Glencraft board asked us not to consider, so it’s obviously a decision for them and the best thing we can do now is do our best for the workers who are in danger of losing their jobs.

Ms Dean said the workers should look to the company’s management when looking to allocate blame for their current situation. Saying they had, “obviously been spending beyond their means”.

Anthony Pratt, Interim-General Manager at Glencraft said the organisation was only sustainable as the result of council grants, which it was announced in 2008, were to be withdrawn.

He said: “Subsidies were going down, sales were going up, margins were going up, costs were coming down and productivity was going up. What it needed was just another couple of years at that kind of progress and it would have become a sustainable organisation.”

The 52 workers – 31 of whom are blind or disabled - have been told to turn up for work on Monday as usual but most will cease to have a job once an administrator is appointed.

Terry Pirie, who has worked at the firm for nearly 50 years and has limited sight and a hearing problem, says his job was “his life”.

He said: “Devastated is the one word I would use. Where would any disabled or blind person get a job in Aberdeen? It’s devastating. It finishes people’s lives basically.

Leslie Laird, who is an insulin-dependent diabetic, has worked at Glencraft for 20 years. He said: “I find it quite stupid that people who are blind, disabled and have learning disabilities have been working here for years paying taxes and national insurance and now the government’s to stay at home all day watching TV basically. It seems very counter-productive.”

As an educational trust, the company’s governors must apply to the Court of Session to appoint an administrator, which is expected to happen next week.