Staff formerly employed by the collapsed Deben Transport are preparing to bring a group action case against the company in the hope of receiving a greater compensation settlement.


JMW Solicitors, the law firm behind a major group action claim against City Link, said six of the container haulier's former employees have signed up to take a case to the employment tribunal, on the grounds that it failed to properly consult with them ahead of their redundancy.

A further 12 former staff have also enquired about signing up.

JMW said those who were employed at a depot with 20 or more people can become part of a group action claim hoping for an additional eight weeks’ pay from the Department for Trade and Industry.

All dismissed employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks notice pay depending on the length of service, and up to six weeks accrued holiday pay, which may be recovered from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Partner Carl Moran said he expects the case to have a "successful outcome".

"We are currently working on behalf of over 350 former City Link employees on a very similar group action so have a wealth of experience in this type of case," he added.  In March it lodged a separate claim over City Link’s failure to properly consult with redundant staff with the employment tribunal and is awaiting a date for the hearing.

Deben Transport ceased trading in April after a sustained period of losses, including a pre-tax loss of £658,135 from a turnover of £34m for the year ended 31 December 2013.

Administrator Ensors was appointed on 13 April and some 200 of its 224 staff were immediately made redundant.