Bosses of Bradford's Remploy factory were today accused of dragging their heels in the search to find a site for a new building.

Union officers say they believe no progress has been made since the company, which employs a number of disabled people, and Bradford Council began talks six weeks ago.

And the GMB has warned that a vote on industrial action could be taken by Remploy workers from factories across the country at its national conference in Manchester on January 20.

The Bradford factory, which has 40 workers, is under threat of a merger with Leeds in a national shake-up announced by the management last month.

Remploy says there will be no compulsory redundancies, but many Bradford workers say they would find the journey to Leeds impossible because of their serious disabilities.

Now Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe has called for a purpose-built factory on a site in the district which could serve both Bradford and Leeds.

Phil Davies, GMB national secretary, said: "No progress seems to have made about an alternative."

He said a vote calling for industrial action "might well take place" at the GMB conference when shop stewards from all Britain's 87 Remploy publishing factories were expected to be present.

Bradford GMB official Terry Patten said morale had been low in recent weeks. "The feeling is that the company and Council are dragging their feet."

But Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said he found remarks that people were dragging their feet "unhelpful."

He added: "We are in discussion. We are prepared to help and look at all possibilities. But at the end of the day it has to be viable."

Bradford is among nine of the company's factories facing "substantial changes" which could affect its workers.

The company says the existing factory in Barnard Road has structural problems and needs costly repairs if it is to stay open.

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