Corus unions threaten legal action
CORUS could be challenged in the law courts over its latest decision to scrap a quarterly bonus payment to 3,500 Scunthorpe steelworkers later this month.
Roy Rickuss, the national officer for the Community union, said after an emergency meeting with colleagues in Scunthorpe yesterday: "This is not just a breach of contract but a breach of trust.
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"We are reaching the point where Corus are causing irreparable damage to industrial relations."
Mick Fell, chairman of the Scunthorpe works multi-union committee, said Corus' latest move has prompted unions to seek legal advice.
He said: "We are taking legal advice with a view to further action to protect our members' rights."
Community and the other steel unions Unite and GMB made it clear following yesterday's meeting the gloves were off after Corus decided to axe agreed bonus payments - as well as cutting back on 866 jobs in the town.
Terry Pye, the national officer for the Unite union, said: "We are consulting our lawyers to consider taking Corus to court for breaching recognised agreements on terms and conditions."
A Corus spokesman said: "At a time when the company is taking action to address cost issues in order to get through the downturn and improve its long-term competitiveness, it is clearly appropriate to adjust the bonus scheme factors for this financial year."
For the unions, the next stage in the fightback will be a mass meeting of all Corus trade union officials from sites across the UK in London on July 24.
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
61 Comments
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by kev, scunthorpe
Thursday, July 23 2009, 4:19PM
“well corus have mugged its honest and hard working workforce now.Hope they are satisfied but at the same time don't expect us to be so enthusiastic about cost saving in the future.Besides corus will have their own ideas about that as we already know.”
by corus-crud, scunny
Thursday, July 16 2009, 9:28PM
“tata want our livleyhoods,jobs and kids futures and our history
they can get away with it today
strike...now”
by lawson, ruggy
Thursday, July 16 2009, 6:00PM
“PS forgot to remind you all about how much real estate was purchased by tata when they took over. most are prime locations which will ensure vast profits for them when all the sites are demolished. not a bad bit of business eh? ( you always have to ask the question -WHY?) why did tata buy corus? it doesn't take much working out when you look at the bigger picture.”
by coldos, ruggy
Thursday, July 16 2009, 5:32PM
“people! we all have to realise that tata never had long-term plans for our steel industry. they borrowed money in a boom-time to buy a competitor in order to access their markets, steal the know-how and milk the profits, ( with one eye on the pension fund). they waited for the capitalist-induced recession to validate the systematic removal of hard-won wages,terms and conditions of the british steelworker. it's begun and won't end until we are trampled into the " stoor. " we will soon have to pay pounds to buy steel that is made for rupees. and for all those "agent provocateurs" commenting, your views only serve to fuel the fire of division and conquest among the british workers. get off your knees and go collect your thirty pieces of indian silver. for the rest of you, lobby your elected representatives to demand that OUR Goverrnment do what we pay them for - namely protect the intersts of our country by not capitulating to those who would do us harm. our steel industry is our herirtage and necessary for our future and our descendants' future.”
by strike FM, corus
Thursday, July 16 2009, 1:07PM
“I own a modest semi too paul lets talk”