Business News

Hundreds of Outraged Unite Members to Demonstrate as Agency Workers are Brought in to Cover Sacked Staff

Friday 02. May 2008 - Hundreds of Unite the union members who have been outraged by the actions of Somerset based colour book printers, Butler and Tanner, who sacked 287 workers on Saturday (26th April) only to replace them with agency staff to keep the site operational, will take part in a protest demonstration through Frome, Somerset today (Friday 2nd May).

The workforce of Butler and Tanner Printers Ltd (B&T) was informed by post that the company had closed and is going into receivership owing the workers thousands of pounds in unpaid wages and deducted pension contributions.

Unite members gathered at the company following receipt of their notices to find the gates barred and bolted. Workers had been told the company is closed, that they are redundant with immediate effect and that an application for voluntary liquidation will be made.

Ann Field, Unite national officer, said: “We have received reports that the company is still operational inside the plant and that agency and temporary workers have been recruited to cover the work of the sacked Butler & Tanner staff.

“Union members expressed their outrage that Mr Dolan (B&T chairman) has sacked them, but is still intent to carry on the business. These cynical moves will only worsen the case against the chairman and the company.

“We are hoping that as many people as possible will attend the demonstration to support the sacked workers and their livelihood. B&T are the biggest firm in the town and have employed local people, including many families, for generations. They will stand condemned by their actions.”

At a packed workforce meeting earlier this week over 250 workers, sacked by Mr Dolan on Saturday, gathered to hear reports from Unite. They heard that in addition to a month’s wages owed by the company, the pension contribution of GBP44,000 was also unpaid. At the meeting Unite pledged to take every step to retrieve the money owed, and all their entitlements and compensation and condemned the company’s destruction of their jobs and livelihoods.