Threadneedle Seven fight sackings

Four of the Threadneedle Seven arrive at the tribunal

A group of seven Bank of England workers are claiming they were unfairly dismissed, and have taken their former employers to tribunal.

The Threadneedle Seven as they are now known, were all asked to sign a new and less generous contract.

Their old terms gave them cheap mortgages, more holidays, flexi-time and help with dentists bills.

They say when they refused the new deals, they were sacked.

So now they're at a tribunal to claim compensation for their dismissal.

I think we had to make a stand

Clare Peardon

"I think we had to make a stand because we all passionately believe that they shouldn't have been able to take away our benefits", said Clare Peardon, one of the Seven.

The Director of Personnel at the Bank John Bootman arrived at the tribunal to put its case but remained light-lipped.

In fact the Bank would only say:

The Bank is defending the claims vigorously

Bank of England

"The Bank is defending the claims vigorously but does not want to comment further while the hearing is underway at the tribunal."

The Threadneedle Seven are more at home behind the counter than in the glare of publicity.

They are the second group to be heard at this tribunal.

Protesting

The others signed the new contract but are still protesting about the change in conditions, with the backing of their union.

It will be the job of this tribunal to decide whether the Threadneedle Seven were unfairly dismissed, and if they were what sort of compensation may be in order.

"From an employers point of view they're meant to sit down and reach agreement for change", says Johnathan Hearn, an employment lawyer.

"From the employee's point of view, they could say no, and ultimately face dismissal and then gamble on a tribunal agreeing with them that there was no sound business reason for the employer making the change."

The mood in the Threadneedle Seven camp is defiant and some of them even say they want they want their jobs back.

But the tribunal has only just begun, and it will be some time before they hear the final verdict.