Unions challenge gambling firms

The T&G and GMB general unions are taking on William Hill and Stanley Leisure over consultation rights and pay.

The T&G believes that Stanley Racing, which runs over 624 betting offices around the country, failed to consult workers over a takeover by William Hill which took effect last month.

The union has written to new owners William Hill saying that it had launched an employment tribunal application over the case.

Meanwhile, GMB members in Stanley Leisure's 41 casinos voted in favour of strike action in a consultative ballot which rejected a 3.2% pay claim from the company.