Firms face £8m damages claim

The company went into receivership last year.

One of the biggest employment lawsuits in Scotland is due to start, with 160 sacked workers seeking damages of £8m.

The staff were employed by Edinburgh technology firm Telesens KSCL until it went into receivership in June 2002.

They base their damages claim on the grounds of collusion, sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.

They said they received nothing even though the company was sold for $10m.

When Telesens KSCL went into receivership, 220 people lost their job.

Shortly after that, the company was bought by American firm Convergys.

Test case

The dismissed staff claim they received no salary for their last month at the company, were not consulted about the firm's plans and were not given the statutory three month's notice.

In addition, eight of those made redundant were women who were either pregnant or on maternity leave.

They are now bringing cases of sex discrimination against the receivers, Deloitte & Touche and Convergys.

A test case involving former employee Mike Cicero will be heard in Glasgow on Wednesday and will determine whether the matter goes to a full hearing.

Four years ago KSCL was one of Scotland's largest software firms and planned to take on more staff as part of a global expansion.