Twelve more TJ Hughes stores to close
The administrators of failed discount department store chain TJ Hughes have announced that a further 12 stores will close over the next few days and another 585 staff will be made redundant.
The Belfast, Bootle, Corby, Coventry, Derby, Oldham, Plymouth, Redditch, Romford, Scunthorpe, Hanley and Warrington stores will all close by the end of the month.
While six stores have been bought by Lewis’s Home Retail Limited, a total of 42 stores have now been closed by the administrators and around 2,200 staff made redundant.
The Usdaw Union said it was worried that administrators Ernst & Young may be operating to a pre-determined closure timetable despite the fact that they have said that they are seeking buyers for the remaining stores. It also raised concerns about the consultation and notice period given to those staff being made redundant.
John Gorle, Usdaw national officer, said: “Our members are understandably extremely angry at the way they are being treated. Loyal and hardworking staff are keeping stores open and running despite their precarious situation and as a absolute minimum they should be getting regular and accurate information from the administrators and proper notice and consultation before being made redundant.”
Usdaw said it would continue to support staff to ensure that they received all the monies and severance payments they were entitled to and would provide advice and support to help them new jobs.
