Multi-million-pound employment tribunal claim for East Lancashire travel firm workers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Multi-million-pound employment tribunal claim for East Lancashire travel firm workers

12:42pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News

A MULTI-million-pound employment tribunal damages claim is being sought in the wake of an East Lancashire travel operation’s closure.

Currently more than 120 former workers at Sitel are involved in the class action against Sitel, which was based at Accrington’s Globe Centre and had staff from across East Lancashire.

And lawyers expect that more of the 250-strong workforce will become involved in the compensation battle against the international company, which handles online holiday bookings and axed staff last November.

Carl Moran, a partner in Manchester-based JMW Solicitors, said the unfair dismissal claims are based on the company’s alleged failure to consult properly on the job losses or take any steps to offer alternatives.

He added: “Whilst we have not yet received Sitel’s response to the claim we have lodged, it is difficult to see how Sitel can justify the fairness of these dismissals or the way in which the employees have been treated.

“We have set up a dedicated team at JMW to deal with these claims and would like to hear from anyone else who has been dismissed.

“We do not of course know at this stage when the final employment Tribunal hearing will be, but we anticipate that the damages recoverable are likely to run into several millions of pounds.”

Neil Russell-Smith, Watford-based marketing director for Sitel UK, said the company did not comment on internal staffing matters.

The closure of Sitel was described as ‘devastating’ by Hyndburn council leader Coun Miles Parkinson.

The claims have been lodged with the Manchester Employment Tribunal and the solicitors have given a February 13 cut-off for the acceptance of new cases.

You can contact Carl Moran on 0161 828 8334.