Protective Award - updated information from
The Insolvency Service

The Insolvency Service has updated its published information
about the Protective Award made to certain employees.
This includes the bombshell that those people who were
dismissed before 27 December 2008 do not qualify
as they were sacked too soon. You can read more about the progress in making payment and the latest FAQs at
Woolworths Tribunal Award on the Insolvency Service website (www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency).

You will not be eligible for a payment if you worked in a store with less than 20 employees, or if you lost your job during Deloitte's attempt to 'save' the business before the final shutdown. We have a mirror copy of the list of small stores.
 

*** URGENT WARNING ***

We have received a report of a former employee receiving a call 'from Woolworths' requesting their bank details. The Insolvency Service never makes outgoing calls requesting this information. Be careful and keep your details secret!
 

USDAW wins but fights on

The last Woolworths store closed just forty-one days after the business went into Administration. At the time USDAW argued that this was wrong, because Deloitte LLP had a duty to consult before making major redundancies.

The Union pursued a Protective Award on behalf of the staff. This was finally upheld, over three years after it was made, but only for those stores which had twenty or more staff and for those who were sacked on or after 27 December 2008. Those who qualify will receive sixty days' pay, to a maximum of £3,200.

This leaves over 4,000 people without compensation. This seems very unfair as it was the whole Group that collapsed, not a few store closures. USDAW has promised to appeal that decision.

We would like to say big thank you to USDAW and UNITE for their tireless work for Woolworths workers. The case certainly shows the value of having a Trade Union!

Morally Bankrupt

We have received many messages from people expressing frustration and anger at the exclusions from the Award, the long delays in processing payment by the Insolvency Service and the lack of honest information about those excluded because they were "sacked too soon"'. This info was revealed far too late.

Many employees had paid taxes throughout long careers, and had never called on the State for help before. The service they have received has fallen far short of the Big Society ideal.

Whatever the failings of the company, the staff had done nothing wrong, and acted with great dignity throughout the Administration, even when they found their possessions strewn on the floor after their lockers had been sold.

How can it possibly be right that these people should be punished again, without a protective award, and given such a slow and ineffective service?

Right a wrong

Phil Bryant, the former Manager of the Egham, Surrey store,
and colleagues Stephanie Stephens and Dawn De Maio have launched an e-petition on the Downing Street website.

E-petitions: justiceforwoolworths

You can also see the story in film at 2small.co.uk

Woolworths Virtual Museum

The 99 year story of Woolies in the High Street in words, pictures, music and film is available free on-line. The Museum is back, bigger and bolder at WoolworthsMuseum.co.uk