‘We want our money,’ say laid off Tachbrook Park workers

Last month some 24 shop floor workers, out of a departmental staff of 65, at Plastic Resources Ltd in Tachbrook Park lost their jobs.

They had been told they would be paid weekly wages until June 6, as well as a redundancy package and any outstanding holiday pay. But on Monday the firm went into administration and a group of the former employees – all now out of work – told the Courier that they have only received one week’s worth of wages since being sent a redundancy letter on March 14.

They also say they are owed 12 months’ worth of pensions payments.

Mukhtiar Singh, who had worked for Plastic Resources and its predecessor Plastic Engineering for 14 years, said: “They owe nearly 100 people between £300 and £400 worth of pension money.

“We have been paying two per cent and the company was supposed to be paying four per cent.

“The company has been buying no toilet rolls or soap for nearly two years. They say they will pay us, but they have no money – they are just playing a game with us.

“We are all very worried. We have families to look after, but we have no choice but to be unemployed.”

The Courier approached Plastic Resources’ operations manager Mike Riddex, but he declined to respond to our messages.

Samuel Lewis, insolvency administrator of UHY Hacker Young LLP, which is dealing with the administration of the firm, said: “The firm entered into administration on Monday.

“We are trading the company and looking to market it for a sale during the administration, which is not complete. We have had a meeting with all those who were made redundant to explain to them the process of the administration.

“They will receive all their statutory redundancy money and any outstanding wages and outstanding holiday pay. It’s the same with any insolvency.”

Mr Lewis said the pension arrangements had been set up by the previous company, Plastic Engineering, and he was looking into whether the former employees will be able to claim that money back.

He added: “We are working to get their payments to them as quickly as possible.”