Construction union UCATT are preparing to take a series of employment tribunal cases in support of hundreds of workers in Wales and South West England who formerly worked for Quadron Property Services Ltd.

Trouble started when the company based in Somerset, which undertook housing maintenance services for a large number of councils, housing associations and other organisations went into administration in November 2009. The company employed nearly 400 staff.

Most of Quadron's contracts have been given to other companies or taken back in-house. However in many cases the new companies have ignored TUPE rules and forced the existing workers onto poorer terms and conditions.

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In other cases the new contractor has refused to take on all the former Quadron staff previously working on a contract. Those staff that have not been taken on have been left in a legal limbo, with administrators Deloitte stating that they should have been TUPE transferred to the relevant new contractor.

Many workers are also owed money in unpaid wages from Quadron Property Services.

The affected workers undertook housing maintenance projects at the following organisations: Bournemouth Council, Charter Housing Association (Newport), English Heritage, Monmouthshire Council, North Somerset Housing, Salisbury Council, Solon Housing Association (Bristol), Stroud District Council, and on several smaller contracts.

Nick Blundell, Regional Secretary for UCATT Wales and South West Region, said: "These workers have been treated with contempt. The rules are clear companies which take on contracts should be obliged to employ the same number of workers on the same terms. Yet many of the new contractors have simply ignored the legislation. If the companies will not co-operate we will not hesitate in taking legal action in support of our members."

(CD/GK)