The UK subsidiary of Austrian multi-national packaging company Mayr-Melnhof, has victimised and illegally sacked over 140 workers at its factory in Liverpool. On February 18th, following lawful industrial action taken by Unite the Union over the imposition of unfair selection criteria and inferior pay for a limited number of redundancies, Mayr Melnhof Packaging Ltd, locked-out the entire workforce - the first employer lock-out in England for over fifty years. During the lock-out Mayr Melnhof victimised trade union activists, including the dismissal of four workers on trumped up charges. The last act of this rogue employer took place on March 29th, when Mayr Melnhof attempted to illegally shut the factory for good. The company issued illegal notice of closure to Unite - in blatant breach of both UK and EU employment law and has refused to open any form of consultation or negotiation. Unite will not stand by and let 140 workers be subject to illegality and victimisation. The Union is determined to fight the illegal closure and force Mayr Melnhof back to the negotiating table.

(LabourStart campaign, follow through here)