FEARS have been raised that disabled workers could lose their jobs, following a Government review of local employer Remploy.

Remploy operates 83 factories, which produce a range of different products, throughout the UK.

One of them, a textiles manufacturer, is based in Redeness Street, York.

The company is publicly funded and provides "economic independence for disabled people through work".

Les Woodward, national convener of the Remploy consortium of trade unions, said the Department for Work and Pensions had called a financial review based on figures published by the National Audit Office in November.

"The results were scathing, saying that Remploy was unsustainable and not cost efficient. But what they didnot mention is that the company has a management structure full of fat cats," he said.

"We're concerned that disabled people are going to have to pay the ultimate price their jobs for these fat cats." Price Waterhouse Cooper had been employed by the Government to carry out the review, and will report to Ministers soon.

Mr Woodward said Remploy managers had told him that every factory was at risk of closure.

The Redeness Street factory was opened in 1973, and employs 55 people, 50 of whom have a range of physical and learning disabilities.

Alison Henderson, the GMB trade union's shop steward at Remploy York, said: "The strategic review leaves me and my disabled colleagues who work in the factory very, very fearful for our jobs, and the jobs of the 5,000 or so severely disabled people who are employed by Remploy nationally.

"Remploy factories are under direct threat because of the review the chief executive has clearly stated that there will not be 83 factories after the publication of the review findings.

"To lose any of our factories would be a catastrophe of the first magnitude and a severe disservice to disabled people."

But Bob Warner, Remploy chief executive, said: "We share the Government's desire to encourage many more disabled people into work and therefore welcome an independent assessment of Remploy's contribution to this process. We know from our long experience of finding work for disabled people that there are large numbers who are able to work, given the right support, training and encouragement.

"Whatever emerges from this review, it is Remploy's intention that it will not withdraw from any community where it has a presence, and we will seek to ensure that no disabled factory employee will be made compulsorily redundant."