Payout win for Ballantyne's workforce
David O'Leary • Published 11 Feb 2011 09:30
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FORMER Ballantyne's mill workers are rejoicing this week after finally winning their court battle for compensation.
Ballantyne's in Innerleithen, one of Scotland's oldest cashmere firms, shed 132 employees last January.
And since then a legal battle has ensued surrounding a protective award for these workers.
A protective award requires an employer to pay remuneration for up to 90 days to individuals concerned with their redundancy. It is understood that some of the laid-off employees could now be entitled to up £2,000.
The workers case was initially taken up by the Unite union, who in turn apppointed Edinburgh solicitor, Gordon Bathgate, to fight the legal battle on their behalf.
The matter had appeared before a tribunal in Edinburgh last week.
Speaking to the Peeblesshire News following the recent award, Gordon Bathgate said: "I'm extremely glad that we have been successful with this action. There was a lot of negotiation and adjustment involved in the case but it's been worth it as these workers fully deserve compensation for losing their jobs.
"The sum of compensation to each worker will now depend on the level of each individual salary."
Known locally as Ballantyne's, the former Caerlee Mill was in fact owned by JJ & HB, who acquired it and its traceable roots back to 1820 from Ballantyne's in 2004. Such was the compnay's reputation for excellence that the generic name for cashmere in Italy was Ballantyne.
However, JJ & HB closed the entire operation last January citing poor economic trading conditions. The machinery from the factory went under auction in April of last year.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 11 Feb 11
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