Compensation awards

Unity, the union representing workers in the pottery business, has won “protective awards” for members made redundant last year from Denby, Wedgwood and other pottery manufacturers, for a failure to consult in time on collective redundancies. Protective awards are capped at a maximum of eight weeks’ pay at a maximum of £350 per week, and are paid by the government’s insolvency fund if the companies have gone into administration.

At the largest firm, Royal Worcester & Spode, Unity’s lawyers won a total of £840,000 for 300 employees, an average of £2,800 each, while at Wedgwood, 220 staff each received around £2,5oo.

In a similar case, UCATT construction workers’ union won compensation for 333 former employees of Hull caravan company Atlas Holiday Homes, worth £1.5 million in total.