TJ Hughes staff win redundancy deal

Sep 28 2012

A union has secured compensation worth up to £3,200 for people made redundant from a discount department store firm.

Shopworkers union Usdaw said it won the awards for members made redundant from TJ Hughes in Dundee and Dumfries.

The chain went into administration last year, with 75 staff losing their jobs two days later, said the union.

Usdaw national officer John Gorle said: "I'm sure our members will be delighted that Usdaw has secured this award for them, but unfortunately it still remains scant recompense for losing your job, especially after many years loyal service to the company."

"All of TJ Hughes stores had more than 20 staff, so in this case we have avoided the injustice experienced by many former employees of Woolworths and Ethel Austin, who missed out on compensation simply because they worked in stores where less than 20 redundancies were made.

"Usdaw remains committed to challenging this interpretation of the law involving collective redundancies and we expect a hearing to be held before the end of this year."

In a statement, Usdaw said the Glasgow Employment Tribunal found that TJ Hughes failed in a legal duty to consult with the union before making the redundancies.

Similar claims are yet to be heard in relation to TJ Hughes stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.