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Usdaw wins £67
million compensation for former Woolworths workers
THE shopworkers union Usdaw
has won compensation worth up to a massive £67.8 million for over
24,000 former employees of Woolworths made redundant when the firm
collapsed at the end of 2008.
The iconic high street retailer went into administration on 27
November 2008 and by early January 2009 the administrators had
closed all of Woolworths stores, offices and distribution centres
and made nearly 30,000 people redundant in the process.
Usdaw made a claim on behalf of its members for a Protective Award
after the administrators failed in their legal duty to consult with
the union before making redundancies. After many months of legal
wrangling, the Employment Tribunal finally heard the case involving
members employed in England, Scotland and Wales in late November
2011.
In a judgement that has been released, the Employment Tribunal in
London found that the administrators had failed in their legal
obligations to consult with Usdaw and awarded its members
compensation of 60 days pay, capped at £330 a week, the maximum
payable in these circumstances.
Unfortunately, as occurred in a similar case involving former
employees of Ethel Austin, the compensation award excludes all
former employees who happened to work in smaller stores where fewer
than 20 redundancies were made. This means around 3,000 employees
who worked in around 180 of the 814 stores covered by today’s
judgement may never receive compensation.
Usdaw has already made a separate and successful claim for its
members formerly employed by Woolworths in Northern Ireland. As no
employees in Northern Ireland worked in stores with less than 20
staff, all former employees received compensation of 60 days pay.
John Gorle, Usdaw National Officer said:- "While the award is
never going to fully compensate people for losing their jobs, I’m
sure our members will welcome the money and appreciate the effort
Usdaw has made to secure the compensation for them. Cases like this
once again demonstrate the immense value of belonging to a trade
union. However, I’m once again bitterly disappointed that a Tribunal
has limited the scope of the award. The fact that some of our
members won’t be compensated simply because their store had less
than 20 employees is just plain wrong and shows the gaping loophole
and injustice of the current legislation. Nearly 30,000 employees
were made redundant from Woolworths at the same time and for the
same reason, so to suggest 3,000 of them didn’t constitute a
collective redundancy is a nonsense."
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary added:- "My delight at
the award for the vast majority of our members is tempered by the
clear injustice that workers in smaller stores could miss out. Usdaw
thinks that the UK's current interpretation of the law on collective
redundancies is both unfair and possibly a breach of the European
Directive which seeks to protect workers in large scale redundancy
situations. We are taking further expert legal advice and it is
highly likely we will appeal against this part of the judgment."
Leap to give blood
THE NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) are
urging donors to give blood in February and make the most of an
additional day, only seen once every 4 years. Barbara Blanche,
spokesperson for NHSBT, said:- "Sessions will be happening
across England and North Wales throughout February. It only takes
one donation to help save and treat up to three lives so giving
blood this leap year can make a huge difference to patients in need.
With only 4% of the eligible population regularly donating, it is
important that people sign up to give blood and return on a regular
basis." Anyone wanting to donate for the first time
should be aged between 17-65, weighing at least 50 kg (7 stone
12lbs) and in general good health. If you’ve donated before, you can
start again up to your 70th birthday and there is no upper age limit
for donors who have donated in the last 2 years. To find out more
about February 2012 Blood Sessions or to book an appointment call
the Donor Line on:- 0300 123 23 23 or visit them online at:-
blood.co.uk.
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Manchester MP
disappointed Daylight Saving Bill ran out of time
JOHN Leech MP for Manchester Withington has
expressed his disappointment that the Daylight Saving Bill did not
pass its 3rd reading in the House of Commons on 20 January 2012.
Unfortunately the bill was talked out meaning it ran out of time to
be voted on before the 2.30pm deadline. The Bill would mean that
Britain’s clocks move an hour forward throughout the year. John
Leech MP said:- "I’m disappointed that 1 or 2 MPs decided to
scupper the bill that would have had such a huge impact of improving
road safety and giving sports and leisure a huge boost."
The changes would still mean clocks were brought forward an hour in
spring and back in autumn, but the sun would rise an hour later
throughout the year. Britain would no longer be on Greenwich Mean
Time, as it is in the winter at present, but instead would share a
time zone with most of the rest of Europe.
The Bill has been backed by the Lighter Later campaign who believe
the change could result in the creation of up to 80,000 leisure and
tourism jobs, lower electricity bills, lower carbon emissions as
well as reduced fear of crime. John Leech said:- "Since my
election to Parliament in 2005 I have always supported the Lighter
Later campaign. Statistically more accidents happen at the time the
changes would be made so from a road safety point of view it will
have a great impact in reducing accidents. The changes would also
have a positive effect on sports and recreation, such as Withington
Golf Club in my constituency who contacted me with regards to the
Bill. They argued that by giving people an extra hour of sunlight in
their waking lives will allow them to lead more active lifestyles
and thereby make them healthier and happier." The
Daylight Saving is unlikely to proceed any further, due to a lack of
parliamentary time.
X-Factor’s James Michael to perform
live at the Stobart Stadium
THE Vikings have confirm that local singing
sensation James Michael will be performing live at the Stobart
Stadium Halton on Friday, 3 February 2012, when Denis Betts' first
team kick-off their 2012 Stobart Super League campaign against the
Wildcats.
In an attempt to make their return to the game’s elite competition
even more of an occasion, the club is leaving no stone unturned when
it comes to providing top-drawer entertainment and is delighted to
add the former Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College pupil to its
package for the evening.
James, who turns 21 in February, hit the headlines back in August
2011 when his audition wowed the celebrity judging panel on The X
Factor. Although devastated at the time to miss out on winning the
hit ITV show, such is his determination to succeed in the music
industry he has continued to write and perform his own songs ever
since. He is also scheduled to go into a recording studio later this
month to lay down an album of cover versions.
Unlike some hopefuls who dream of
fame and fortune, Widnes-born James has always maintained that he
just wants to make good music and his recent journey has whetted his
appetite further and given him a gave him a taste of what could be.
Since exiting The X Factor in October, his new found success has led
to opportunities a-plenty including a modelling contract with an
online menswear retailer and a whole host of personal appearances
and live performances nationwide. His official Twitter account (@thejmichael)
is currently followed by nearly 48,000 people. Speaking about
his forthcoming appearance, James said:- "Getting on stage and
belting it out to thousands of people is what it’s all about to me
and playing in front of the fans will be fantastic and my way of
saying thank you to them for the support they’ve offered me so far.
I’m really excited by the prospect of performing live and I hope it
turns out to be a night to remember for us all, especially the
Vikings fans!"
Tickets for the Vikings' Stobart Super League opener versus
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Friday, 3 February 2012, are now on
sale at the Vikings Superstore.
Call:- 0151 420 7227 for more
details. For more information about James Michael, check out
his official
website. |
