George Scollan, 58, had worked for Remploy , which specialises in providing work for people with disabilities, since 1973. But the factory, in Springburn, closed yesterday, with the loss of more than 40 jobs.

Colleagues said he had “lived for his job” and grown “more and more depressed” about the prospect of unemployment.

Phil Brannan, a friend and senior shop steward for the GMB union / Unite the Union consortium at Remploy, said:

“This is an absolute tragedy. It’s too early to say what has happened, but it is too much of a coincidence for him to be found dead on the day his work closed down.

“As far as I know, he wasn’t suffering any particular health issues, but he had become extremely upset recently about the work situation.“He had applied for a job with one of the organisations taking people on from Remploy, but he was unsuccessful and he was bitterly disappointed.”

Respect For the Unemployed & Benefit Claimants – pays tribute to an outstanding trade unionist & a campaigner for the rights of both workers & the unemployed, disabled alike :

“we will remember him & the banner will continue to be carried in his memory”

Springburn was the fourth Remploy site in Scotland to close since the UK Department for Work and Pensionssaid last year its £320 million budget for specialist disability employment services had been protected, but that it wanted to spend the money “more effectively” to focus support on individuals rather than loss-making institutions such as Remploy.

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