Mortons Rolls employees are fighting back as they prepare to sue their former employee and others are being urged to join a massive lawsuit against the Drumchapel bakers.
There are so far 15 employees reportedly involved in suing the company after they were given the devastating news that their jobs were no longer on the table.
The lawsuit could see each of them handed thousands of pounds in compensation, the Record reports.
READ MORE: Glasgow NHS worker struck off after 'swapping price labels' at John Lewis store and refund fraud
The case against Mortons is being compiled by Glasgow-based Thompsons Solicitors, which says the company has treated its 230 employees "coldly" after leaving them in uncertainty for a week before sacking them. Workers found out on Monday that they had been made redundant as of March 7, days after being told to stay home.
Paul Kissen, head of the protective award unit at Thompsons, has encouraged more employees to come forward. He is confident that they can claim an award from the Drumchapel firm, which is in liquidation, for being dismissed unlawfully.
Mr Kissen said: "In this situation everyone has been left in limbo then at the last minute dumped, which is a pretty immoral way of doing things. The workers are very upset and offended by the lack of information given and the fact that on a Monday night they got an email saying their employment is lost.
"It's a very cold way for staff to learn about their termination from a company that some of them had worked for for over 20 years. If the facts are as we understand them then [our chances of success are] as good as 100 percent."
The case centres around winning protective awards: unlawful redundancy pay-outs that employees are entitled to on top of their unpaid wages, unworked notice, unused holidays and statutory redundancy pay. In Mortons case, the law states that the firm should have carried out 45 days of consultation before cutting jobs, and Thompsons estimates that the award could be in excess of £4,000 a head.
Mr Kissen added: "In this case they have dismissed everyone and they haven't done any consultation with anyone whatsoever. You can see why some companies selfishly, as we have seen, keep everyone on tenterhooks to avoid people leaving while they try to rescue the business."
The Record understands that rescue talks have been taking place between Mortons liquidator FRP and potential investors, which could see former employees offered new jobs. However, Thompsons says that even if workers return to a "new" Mortons, should that come about, they will still be entitled to the protective award.
The lawyer added: "[Workers offered a new job] would still be entitled to the award as they have already been made redundant – even if they are hired again, even if it's Mortons. The liability existed from the moment they were dismissed.
"The message we want to send to people is that we will get them eight weeks additional pay on top of the other things they are entitled to – whatever their pay was. They don't need to have worked for the company for two years – every single employee even if they're just in the job on their first day can potentially still get the award, even if it's their first day.
"There's no risk at all as we do it on a no-win-no-fee basis. They pay nothing in any circumstances and we take our fee from the sum that is won."
Mortons and FRP were contacted for comment.
READ NEXT:
Glasgow neo-Nazi jailed for terrorism offence after police raid Priesthill house
Glasgow police investigate rape claim on city centre street
Govan riot thugs identified by clothes after building barricades with wheelie bins and furniture
Family living with 'river of faeces and used tampons' in garden
Dad has heart attack and dies in back of taxi travelling to bowling club
