Worker’s horror at LuDun threat

The factory, in Liscombe Road, Dunstable, (pictured) provides a range of services including picture framing, sanding, spraying and light assembly and packing and exclusively employs people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

But LuDun faces the axe in the Central Bedfordshire spending cuts, to save £300,000, as the local authority looks to save £36 million over three years.

The employee, who refused to be named, told the News/Gazette: “We will take any job that’s given to us but they are going to close the place down. They want to get people in jobs but this is getting people out of jobs.”

And the worker said that the council has set the factory up for failure by not allowing it to run as a business.

He said: “We are not allowed to advertise what we make.

“We used to do wooden toys but because we couldn’t advertise them or sell them, we had to get rid of them. People don’t know that we are there.

“We would like to run it in more of a business way but we are not allowed to advertise. They have set it up so it won’t succeed.”

But Central Bedfordshire Council said LuDun has never run as a commercial business and has been unable to cover the costs of production and wages.

A spokeswoman said: “The business is running at an annual loss of around £300,000, which is subsidised by the council and therefore council taxpayers.”

The authority also said a review of the operation earlier this year concluded that LuDun no longer meets its objectives to support workers with disabilities in gaining employment as part of independent living.

Yesterday the council’s executive committee agreed to a formal 90 day consultation process with those affected by the proposal. 
A final decision will be made on February 8, 2011.

The LuDun worker said: “I think it is all wrong. We are all disabled but we are willing to do anything for our job. If we are out of work, what will we do?

“Even though they have to make cuts, why do they have to make them from disabled people? A lot of them don’t want to be on benefits and take money, they want to work.”

The specific barriers the workers would face in finding alternative work have been acknowledged by the council, which will explore the possibility of redeployment.

Employees will also be offered the opportunity to develop their skills to find another job, including CV writing, interview techniques, one-to-one career consultancy, IT and literacy support.

Councillor Carole Hegley, responsible for social care and health, said: “Having worked with the trustees closely in considering the future of LuDun we support their conclusion that this facility no longer fulfils its objectives.

“In taking forward the consultation we will take every step possible to support our employees and prepare them for the potential closure.”