Ex-Atlas workers' fears over £1.5m compensation

FORMER caravan workers who won a compensation claim worth at least £1.5m have been left unclear about how much money they will be able to receive.

The 333 workers, who lost their jobs when west Hull caravan manufacturer Atlas Holiday Homes went into administration, took the company to an employment tribunal.

As first reported on the Mail's website yesterday, they were able to prove they had not received a paid 90-day consultation period, as required by law, when they were made redundant in December 2008.

The order, made at the tribunal at Wilberforce Court, Alfred Gelder Street, city centre, means each staff member can now claim 91 days of wages back against the company, through the administrators BDO Stoy Hayward.

Based on a minimum payment of £350 per week, each worker is owed about £4,550.

However, the workers have been left wondering exactly how much of their money they could recover from a firm, which is already £20m in debt.

While they wait for their money, individual employees can now claim a maximum of eight weeks' pay, at a maximum of £350 per week, from a Government-funded scheme that pays employees outstanding monies when their employer cannot afford to.

This means each worker is guaranteed at least £2,800.

But the former workers said they have realised they may never see the rest of their money.

Simon Field, 35, of east Hull, worked on the shop floor of the Wiltshire Road factory, for 14 years.

He said: "I think it's great news. I think we deserve it.

"The company left us high and dry at Christmas time and tried to hush us away. This means we will all at least get some of what we are owed.

"But even though we get eight weeks back, most of us were on more than £350 per week anyway.

"We are basically in a no-win situation, but we are just trying to get back what is ours."

Dave Oglesby, of trade union UCATT, which represented many of the workers, said the compensation order had been a long time coming.

He said: "It was 2008 when our members were locked out from the factory. We've waited a long time for this.

"It's been a great victory for us in terms of getting justice for our members."

More than £20m is owed by the company and some of the money has already been paid, but the administrators have not made any payments to the employees to date.

However, the administrators themselves have billed £1.3m in the last year and paid themselves £900,000 already.

Solicitor Nathalie Stewart, of Myer Wolff Solicitors, who represented the workers, said: "This ruling is the first time anyone has actually acknowledged the fact these workers were not treated well.

"The employees were not consulted and not informed, which is against the law and this has now been recognised.

"We would prefer them to get everything they are owed and we know there is money in the pot, but we also know the firm owes more than £20m."

The claim by the workers was not contested by Atlas.