By Phil Coleman Chief reporter

Last updated at 16:43, Friday, 28 August 2009

WORKERS sacked by their new bosses at a Christian bookshop in Carlisle have won “substantial” payouts in an out-of-court settlement, says a union.

Contracts row: SPCK Bookshop staff in Carlisle were sacked last year

Seven staff from the city’s branch of the former SPCK bookshop in the grounds of Carlisle Cathedral were among 32 across the country who were sacked – some by email – by the company’s new owner for refusing to accept new contracts.

Five of the seven local workers planned to take their case to a tribunal helped by the shop workers’ union Usdaw. But the case has now been settled out of court, though the figures involved are being kept secret as part of a three-month confidentiality agreement.

The union argued that the firm’s new owners – the Texas-based charity St Stephen the Great Charitable Trust (SSG) – broke UK employment laws.

When the Carlisle staff were dismissed last year, manager Ray Witty said the new SSG contracts offered inferior conditions. They included longer hours, loss of sick pay and less flexibility over when holidays could be taken. Part-timers were also told that their hours would not be guaranteed.

He thanked Usdaw, and added: “We’re also extremely grateful to former customers who prayed for us.”

The Texan brothers in charge of SSG, Mark and Phil Brewer, insisted the then “loss-making” SPCK chain was operating in a highly competitive retail environment.

Commenting on the settlement, one of the sacked workers, Heather Leather, said: “At the shop where I worked, the staff had a total of more than 100 years’ service between us.

“We simply didn’t know what was happening when the Brewers started all this and we never expected to be treated in this way when we had done nothing wrong.”

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said: “We’re delighted that these long-serving and dedicated members of staff have finally won the compensation they deserve. We believe they have been treated appallingly, with no regard for British law or for the loyalty of the staff.

“Usdaw’s legal department has worked hard to ensure that justice was achieved for these workers. Because the case was so complex, affecting people in shops across the country, they would never have been able to get such a great result without the backing of the union and Usdaw is proud to have been able to help them.”

First published at 05:16, Friday, 28 August 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk