Ex Stewart Milne worker tells of 'shock' sudden sacking at union meeting

A meeting offering legal support to workers who lost their jobs after Stewart Milne Group collapsed was held in Glasgow city centre this afternoon.

The construction firm went into administration last week, with the loss of more than 200 jobs.

Unite the Union hosted the meeting today, in the latest of a series of gatherings across Scotland.

The union is exploring whether it can take legal action, in the hopes of proving the firm knew of its upcoming administration and failed to give staff notice.

Let go via Teams call

Robert Stewart is one of the workers who was told his role as a construction quality manager had been terminated with immediate effect on the first day back after Christmas.

He told Clyde 1 News: "I was working from home and started work at 8 o'clock the first day back after the Christmas and New Year break, and my mobile phone was ringing.

"It was colleagues from Manchester who had been advised through the media that they had been let go with immediate effect. That came as a bit of a surprise, so obviously there was a lot of chatter internally.

"It wasn't until about quarter to four on the Monday afternoon that we actually went to a Teams call to be advised that with immediate effect we were all no longer employed.

'It was a shock'

"It was a shock. We knew that the business itself was up for sale, and with any business, when sales are going through there's generally a restructure.

"So if there are people to be let go, you generally have a bit of forewarning that people are going to be made redundant or whatever - but to be told with immediate effect that you're, you're no longer employed, it was a shock.

When asked how this was impacting him, Robert said: "Well, it's the cost of living. Energy prices going up. I have a mortgage to pay, a wife and a couple of kids to support."

'Barometer for the economy'

Regional coordinating officer for Unite, Steven Dillon, said: "We're here today to protect workers and their families.

"We've got many members with Stewart Milne Construction and they woke up one morning and the gates were shut. Unfortunately, I've dealt with these situations in the construction industry many times.

"They'll be devastated. It's not only the workers. It affects their families. and their wider family as well.

"Construction itself is a barometer for the economy. We can build our way out of recession, but we can also unbuild our way into one.

"I want the Government to look at this seriously and understand that there's a serious problem in the construction industry and as I said earlier, that's a barometer for disaster as far as the economy is concerned.

"Government needs to invest more money in new houses, and of course social housing as well, not just private housing, so we can get people and homes and invest money in the construction industry."

The appointed administrator, Teneo, declined to comment.

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