Exclusive:Scots Labour MPs hit out at 'unacceptable treatment' of National Timber Group employees

Euan Stainbank, Brian Leishman, Pamela Nash and Chris Kane have written a letter with concerns about how National Timber Group redundancies were handled.

The MPs said they have been contacted by constituents who said they were not informed their employer had entered administration until they were locked out of their company accounts.

Many also reported a lack of clear communication about their employment rights, appropriate notification to the Redundancy Payments Service as employees are potentially not going to be getting paid, and why no statutory redundancy consultation process is taking place.

Falkirk MP Mr Stainbank has also raised the issue in the House of Commons and met with Minister for Employment Kate Dearden.

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Mr Stainbank said: “What constituents have described to me is deeply troubling. Workers who have given years of service deserve to be treated with dignity and respect — not locked out of their accounts without explanation and left in the dark about their rights.

“There are serious questions to answer about whether proper procedures were followed, whether communication was adequate, and whether workers were denied the consultation they were entitled to.

“Together with my Scottish Labour colleagues, I have written directly to the administrators to demand clarity and accountability. I have also raised this in Parliament and will continue to push Ministers until Scottish workers get the answers they deserve.

“This cannot be brushed aside quietly. People’s livelihoods are on the line here .”

The MPs have requested confirmation from the administrators on whether redundancies were handled appropriately, what steps were taken to communicate with staff, whether redundancy consultation obligations were met, and when the Redundancy Payments Service was formally notified.

National Timber Group - the UK’s largest timber company - fell into administration on November 26. It operates firms including Rembrand, Scotia roofing and Forfar-based Orchard Timber Products.

It had 25 locations in Scotland but 11 are being closed - with more than 200 jobs lost.

Six branches shut last month. These were in Dumbarton, Forfar, Newton Stewart, Edinburgh, Anniesland and Stirling.

Another five sites closed last week. These were in Coatbridge, Baldovie, Inverness Inverurie and Glasgow.

Its other Scottish bases bases include Aberdeen, Ayr and Skye.

The letter from Mr Stainbank, Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman, Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP Ms Nash, and Stirling and Strathallan MP Mr Kane was sent to joint administrators Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP.

Alvarez and Marsal said: “We are actively engaging with the MPs who have contacted us regarding the constituents impacted by the administration of National Timber Group.

“Upon appointment, it was unfortunately necessary to make redundancies across the Group, as the company was insolvent. We have been working hard to save as much of the business as possible.

“We have already secured the sale of a number of sites in Scotland, securing nearly 50 jobs, and we are hopeful that there will be further positive news about the sale of other assets and sites in due course.

“We recognise that this has been a difficult process for all employees, and particularly those impacted by redundancies. We appreciate the impact this will have on them and their families at this time of year.

“We encourage all those affected by the redundancy process to consult the FAQ help sheet provided to them, which outlines their entitlements, or to get in touch with Evolve IS, a specialist in employee insolvency claims, which we have appointed to assist employees make claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.

“We would like to extend our gratitude once again to all the employees of National Timber Group for their continued support during this process as we continue to progress a sale of the business and assets of the Group.”