Trailer workers threaten tribunal

Ifor Williams Trailers manufactures agricultural trailers and horseboxes

A hundred workers embroiled in a dispute with Wales' biggest trailer company are preparing to take their bosses to an employment tribunal.

Staff at Ifor Williams, which has factories in north Wales at Cynwyd, Corwen and Bala, say they are short of holiday pay.

The claim has been strenuously denied by representatives of the trailer firm.

The latest action has been instigated by the GMB union and follows three strikes in a month, in a separate row over pay and conditions.

If the company loses the tribunal, union leaders claim the firm could face an initial bill of £12,000.

"We've now got 100 tribunal applications," said union representative Dave Cliff.

We are confident that our employees' holiday pay entitlement is both fair and fully conforms with legal requirements Ifor Williams

"People have had four hours' compulsory overtime [every week] but it's not been reflected in the holiday pay for these individuals.

"The average take home pay should be reflected. We'll be looking at lodging these tribunal applications," he added.

The union claimed many employees were up to £120 worse off for their two weeks' holiday than they should have been.

However, a spokesman for Ifor Williams said the company had acted fairly.

"We are confident that our employees' holiday pay entitlement is both fair and fully conforms with legal requirements.

"The basis for calculating the holiday pay is time and a fifth and was negotiated with employee representatives... who voted for it to continue just two years ago."

The GMB union's Dave Cliff says more talks are needed

Last week workers called off two one-day strikes planned for Friday and Monday.

Members of the GMB union narrowly voted in favour of halting their action after an 11th hour request from their bosses at Ifor Williams.

Out of 250 workers, 100 have come forward to consider taking the company to a tribunal.

The company employs 400 people and staff have said they are particularly angry that they do not receive extra payments for longer shifts.

The company has previously said they offered workers a "generous" deal.

GMB stewards and full time officers are meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the next steps in the long running dispute.