A SIX-YEAR battle for more than £400,000 in compensation for 56 workers at a South Yorkshire electronics firm will be taken to the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Unite has accused German-owned company Kostal UK in Rotherham of bypassing union negotiations after workers voted to reject a pay increase in 2015. 

Kostal contacted workers directly, threatening them with loss of a Christmas bonus and the sack if they did not accept the pay proposal.

Unite took the case to an employment tribunal and won; the workers were awarded £426,000 in compensation.

Kostal took the case to the Employment Appeal Tribunal and lost again, but the decision was overruled at the Court of Appeal in 2019.

Unite assistant general secretary for legal Howard Beckett said: “With employers currently using the cover of Covid to attack the terms and conditions of workers across the board, this is a critical case.

“Employment rights and trade union recognition are hard won — employers should not be allowed to offer inducements to undermine collective agreements.

“It is hoped that the Supreme Court will support Unite’s case and ensure that other employers think long and hard before attempting to undermine workers’ collective agreements.”