Workplace Report (February 2010)

Bargaining news

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.


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