The administrators of discount department store chain TJ Hughes have announced that a further 12 stores will close over the next few days and another 585 staff made redundant.
The stores in Belfast, Bootle, Corby, Coventry, Derby, Oldham, Plymouth, Redditch, Romford and Scunthorpe will close on Sunday 21 August, the store in Hanley on Wednesday 24 August and the store in Warrington on Friday 26 August. As has happened elsewhere, staff will be made redundant two days after each store closes its doors to the public.
While six stores have been bought by Lewis's Home Retail Limited, a total of 42 stores have now been closed by the administrators and around 2,200 staff made redundant.
John Gorle, Usdaw National Officer said:
"These latest closures are bitterly disappointing but are now entirely predictable despite the claims of the administrators that they are still trying to find a buyer for the remaining stores. They appear to be operating to a pre-determined closure timetable which they have decided to keep under wraps rather than be open and honest with staff and their Trade Union."
"Our members are understandably extremely angry at the way they are being treated. Loyal and hardworking staff are keeping stores open and running despite their precarious situation and as an absolute minimum they should be getting regular and accurate information from the administrators and proper notice and consultation before being made redundant."
"This is yet another example of the urgent need for Government to review the laws surrounding liquidation and insolvency. Administrators are able to ignore the legal protections and contractual terms of employees because they know it is the taxpayer who ultimately picks up the bill for any compensation awarded to staff as a result. It is wrong and we shall continue to campaign for a fundamental change in the law so that workers in these situations are much better protected."
"In the meantime Usdaw will continue to do everything we can to support and represent our members through this very difficult period. We'll be making sure they receive all monies and severance payments they are entitled to and we will also provide advice and support to help them find another job."
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) is one of Britain's largest trade unions with over 407,000 members nationwide. Usdaw members work in a variety of occupations and industries including: shopworkers, factory and warehouse workers, drivers, call centres, clerical workers, insurance agents, milkround and dairy process, butchers and meat packers, catering, laundries, chemical processing, home shopping and pharmaceutical.
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw)
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