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Truth trumps Corus at appeal
Corus – the UK Steel Giant – has lost an appeal as it defends the forced redundancy of three trade union officials at the Llanwern steel works, South Wales says Community Union. The decision which guarantees interim relief comes as a great relief to the three steelworkers.
Community Union National Officer for Steel Roy Rickhuss said:
‘Corus turned up, suited and booted, with a slick city Barrister, paid for from the profit made by the very members that they are now trying to sack.
‘These men were told they were sacked because there was no work. Yet today the amount of steel produced is increasing and they are recruiting. Clearly, the work was there.
‘Community is now calling upon Corus to reinstate not just these union officials, but all the employees forced out of Llanwern.
‘It has become clear that Corus targeted union officials in a concerted campaign to degrade conditions and cut benefits. Over the last 6 months, long standing agreements have been ignored as management have begun this squeeze.
Llanwern steelworker and Community Union member Gary Stewart said:
‘We are pleased with the court’s decision, it’s not about the money. It’s about the principle; it’s about the impact on our families. We don’t want to be called liars.
‘When we were dismissed, we were gobsmacked. Relations between the unions and management have always been constructive. But in the past year, relations have fallen apart. Corus are in meltdown and we have been forced to watch their incompetence systematically dismantle the British Steel industry.
This new management style doesn’t see us, it doesn’t see our families and it doesn’t see our way of life.
Today has proven the value of trade unions to me and my colleagues. Without the support of Community we could not have fought our case.
The Llanwern 3 have been granted interim relief until their case can be listed and heard by an Employment Tribunal in Cardiff.
Three Community union reps - Mark Hill, Kevin Mulhall and Gary Stewart – have been awarded interim relief by an employment tribunal as the judge says the claimants have ‘a pretty good chance’ of showing they were dismissed for trade union activity. The ‘Llanwern 3’, as the union are calling them, worked at Corus Strip Products in Llanwern. Corus are still refusing requests to reinstate them.
Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE said:
‘This goes to the heart of what we do as a union. Community is built on volunteers like Mark, Kevin and Gary, who give their time to defend the interests of their colleagues. The action that Corus has taken against them is an attack on all our representatives and all our members within Tata Corus.
‘It is disgusting that while the Trade Unions are moving Heaven and Earth to support our members and negotiate agreements that have saved thousands of jobs while keeping British Steel competitive during the worst recession in living memory, Tata Corus are using forced redundancies to mask their anti-union agenda.’
Collectively Mark, Kevin and Gary have 70 years membership of Community and its predecessor union the Iron and Steel trade Confederation. Together they have 40 years of experience as union reps.
Corus must reinstate the Llanwern 3.
Sign our petition here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-llanwern-3.html
