Staff left without wages over employer's dispute

Staff at Ferrybridge Workshops in Knottingley found themselves locked out of the premises

Staff at an engineering workshop say they have been left without wages and unable to work due to a dispute between their employer and its landlord.

Thirty-two people employed at Ferrybridge Workshops in Knottingley found themselves locked out of the premises when they arrived for work on 19 March.

Staff claimed the following day they were told their outstanding wages, due 24 hours later, would not be paid.

Ferrybridge Workshops Ltd said it was unable to pay rent or wages due to monies owed by the site owner, RWE. However, RWE claimed the amount owed was "a much smaller amount than the sums owed to RWE".

Father-of-three Ian Thompson, who worked at the factory as a mechanical fitter, told the BBC "every single" member of staff had been "affected in a bad way".

"We have got young lads there with families who have moved to Ferrybridge in the last two months.

"They saw a future and it has been taken away from them through no fault of their own. The workforce has always given their all here."

Mr Thompson said he had a "small amount" of savings to live off temporarily, but without knowing when his outstanding wages would be paid he admitted he may have to look for another job.

He said he and his colleagues were "still shocked" about the news, adding: "From our point of view Ferrybridge needs to resolve it with RWE.

"We can't be kept in limbo with our wages and our future."

Ian Thompson says he may soon have to look for a new job

Shane Sweeting from the Unite trade union said it was trying "to get RWE and the employer around the table to resolve this issue".

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, whose constituency covers Knottingley, said she was "extremely concerned about what is happening and about the impact on the workforce".

"I have been contacted by Ferrybridge Workshops and I have written to RWE calling for urgent discussions to resolve this and to support local jobs," she said.

Ferrybridge Workshops Ltd director Tim Brooksbank told the BBC: "Although we owe some money to RWE, they actually owe us far more.

"They ceased paying us, which has left us strapped for cash, so we have not been able to pay the rent or the staff."

Mr Brooksbank insisted his company was not "at odds" with RWE, adding: "They are, after all, our biggest customer. We want to reconcile with them."

An RWE spokesperson said it had been left with "no choice" but to take legal action against Ferrybridge Workshops Ltd due to a series of missed payments.

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