Six members have received a protective award after Unite Legal Services was successful in an employment tribunal claim.
The Tribunal found that a Wolverhampton employer had failed to comply with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 after making 21 workers redundant last year. Six of the affected employees were Unite members. The Act requires that the union must be consulted if an employer is making more than 20 staff redundant.
However, the employer ceased trading before consultations occurred, meaning they had broken the law.
Unite the union supported six members who were being made redundant. It secured compensation of 90 days’ pay for the members which is the maximum award under the legislation.
Caroline Crolley, regional officer at Unite the union’s Wolverhampton office, said: “The employer decided to shut up shop before speaking with us, leaving our members unsure of what would happen next. Some of the members we represented had been in their role for several years and, because of their impairments, would struggle with alternative employment.
“We felt it vital that our member’s legal rights were upheld after they were made redundant.”
