HOVERSPEED is running the risk of being taken to an employment tribunal for its "shabby" treatment of skilled and professional staff, the maritime union NUMAST has warned today.

Hoverspeed is meeting staff representatives for further discussions on redundancies arising from its decision to terminate its Dover-Calais services with effect from Monday.

But NUMAST says the company is falling foul of statutory requirements to have a 90-day consultation period for changes that will affect more than 100 workers.

Senior national secretary Paul Keenan said Hoverspeed was hiding behind technicalities and "brassplate" shell companies in an attempt to avoid the 90-day consultation period.

He said: "They argue that staff are employed by two different companies – but that case was demolished by the Central Arbitration Committee during our successful claim for recognition and that judgement should be supported.

"Even if the company’s logic is accepted, there should have been two separately elected groups of employee representatives involved in the consultations, so Hoverspeed has clearly failed on that count.

"It is clear that management is trying every trick in the book to railroad through the closure date. This shabby treatment of long-standing professional staff is appalling and it could well lead the company to an employment tribunal for failure to properly consult its workers.

"All of this shows clearly that Hoverspeed does not really know what it is doing and that the strings are being pulled by Sea Containers.

"We still believe it is essential that management comply with the CAC ruling on the recognition of NUMAST and conduct these negotiations in a proper manner."

Mr Keenan said the company must also act quickly to end the confusion over its long-term plans.