The General Workers' Union said that a recent decision by the Industrial Tribunal and confirmation of the decision by the Court of Appeal guaranteed workers' right to employment when the business they are employed with is transferred.

The case revolved around the sacking of a female employee on grounds of redundancy after the work she used to do with her company was assigned to a contractor.

The Industrial Tribunal had decided that her sacking was unjust and ordered that she be given employment by the contractor under the previous conditions. The tribunal also ordered that she be given compensation.

The GWU said the decision and its confirmation by the Court of Appeal was the first of its kind in a labour dispute.