Belfast TGWU shop stewards win 600 grand compensation

Twenty two security staff sacked from Belfast International Airport more than three years ago have been awarded almost £600,000 in compensation.

An industrial tribunal found the staff had been unfairly dismissed after they went on strike in a row over pay with their employer ICTS.

"Our case sets two important legal precedents which strengthen the hand of all trade unionists," he said.

"The tribunal decisions in our case now establish that shop stewards can legally resume suspended strikes with no legal requirement to give any notice to employers and that any shop steward who is victimised or sacked can claim political discrimination, rather than just unfair dismissal."

"Unfortunately our trade union, for whatever reason, did not take the decision to take the matter on and move it forward," he said.

"This is one of the reasons why we are engaging in a hunger strike at Transport House in London.

"We have had a battle for five years, we need answers to questions from out union as to why we were told effectively this case could not be run.

"We have had to fund this (case) ourselves privately it has cost over £200,000.