MORE than 200 workers from former housewares manufacturer Prestige in Burnley will receive three months' wages following an industrial tribunal.

Unions were successful in two actions in Manchester; the first to secure a protective award for all union members and a second, using test cases, to ensure a leavers' package be honoured.

A public meeting will be held to explain to members what money they should be entitled to.

Tom Fallows, secretary of the General, Municipal and Boilermakers Union, said: "We are delighted with the outcome."

The GMB and its white-collar section APEX together with the Amalgamated Electrical and Engineering Union jointly brought the actions.

The tribunal agreed to grant the protective award because Prestige had failed to consult for 90 days prior to dismissing the workers.

The money is guaranteed to be paid by the Secretary of State to a maximum of £210 a week per claimant. In addition, Prestige operated a leavers' package which Mr Fallows described as "one of the best negotiated by a union."

At the tribunal, the company conceded there was a contractual agreement which had not been honoured. It is expected that workers will get between 30p and 40p in the pound.

Some non-union workers have also pursued unfair dismissal claims, expected to be heard in March.

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