Thamesteel staff WILL lose jobs
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Workers leave Thamesteel
after a meeting with administrators
As many as 350 Kent workers WILL lose their jobs after
Thamesteel went into administration, it has been confirmed.
Administrators called in by the Sheerness metalworks said most
of the workforce will be made redundant.
Accountacy firm Mazars, which was appointed joint administrator
of Thamesteel on Wednesday, said 50 jobs are to be retained while a
buyer is sought for the Brielle Way firm.
Rod Weston, from Mazars, said: "Production at Thamesteel's
Sheerness plant ended several weeks ago and the company voluntarily
entered administration.
"The administrators, unfortunately, had to
inform the workforce that a large number of redundancies need to be
made.
"However 50 jobs are being kept so as to maintain the plant in
full working order while the administrators work hard to try and
find a buyer for the business."
Staff were told on Tuesday they would not be paid and it has
since emerged they will not be receiving their January wages.
However, staff being made redundant are entitled to make a cash
claim from the government. The Redundancy Payments Office will
often pay the arrears of wages, holiday pay, statutory pay in lieu
of notice and statutory redundancy.
Thamesteel administrators are sending out claim forms to workers
and will help staff complete them along with Job Centre and union
officials.
Cllr Ken Pugh, who represents Sheerness at Kent County Council,
yesterday called for a task force to be set up to help affected
workers - like when drugs giant Pfizer pulled out of Sandwich last
year and cut 2,400 jobs.
Meanwhile, Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson has
written to Business Secretary Vince Cable pressing for help.
Are you a Thamesteel worker? Join the debate below.
Friday, January 27 2012
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