84 furniture staff made redundant and 'not given pay'

Eighty-four staff members were made redundant at Ultra Furniture, based in Kingswinford, on March 24, with some opting for voluntary redundancy.

GMB bosses have said staff haven't received their pay for the last two weeks and the union will look to shut down the company to protect the workforce.

Staff members were sent letters regarding their redundancy and how much much money they would receive earlier this year, but say their employer has failed to pay them cash.

Ultra Furniture had a turnover profit of £16 million in 2014.

David Day, GMB officer, said: "The situation is a right mess. There were 84 staff members who were made redundant in the run up to Easter.

"All the staff haven't been paid for two weeks and those made redundant haven't received their pay.

"Some workers have been working there for over 20 years and would be expected to get in excess of £20,000 pay.

"All the staff had received one week early pay when they made redundant but nothing else."

Mr Day said the GMB Union are in contact with solicitors over the situation.

"I have heard no more response from the company," he said.

"We have passed everything on to the solicitors to make the decision whether to take the matter to court or get a winding up order for the company.

"The staff are absolutely bereft, they have gone a third week without pay."

Paul Ghent, a former upholster at the company, who had worked at the company for 20 years, said: "They have kept everybody in the dark.

"The goalposts have been moved that much now nobody knows what is going on.

"There were originally five directors there but now there are two, Glenn Aston and Dennis Milligan.

"It is a shame really. It was a good company to work for but the last two years it has gone down hill.

"I think it is a shame for people who are still working there, they don't know what is going on."

Paul, aged 47, from Kingswinford, who had taken voluntary redundancy, estimated around 60 to 80 workers are still thought to be employed at the company, but have so far been told to stay at home and they would be called back into work on further notice.

He added some staff members made redundant had been down to visit the site to find out more, but that the 'locks had been changed' and employed staff were told not to answer the phones.

Bosses from Ultra Furniture were not available for comment today and the premises was locked up.