Members of a Batley family were among more than 100 employees who have been awarded 13 weeks' pay after Dorlux Beds (UK) was found to have failed in its legal duty of informing workers of a management handover at the Leeds tribunal.

The management of Dorlux was transferred in November last year. Trade union GMB complained but the matter was not resolved, resulting in a tribunal hearing.

The GMB is now complaining victimisation may have taken place as, just days before the hearing, employees were said to have been threatened with the sack if the case was successful.

A Dorlux-headed letter seen by the News says the company was working "extremely hard" behind the scenes to secure the factory's future, and suggested this was the reason employees weren't consulted.

The letter, dated June 5, adds: "It is with great sadness, therefore, that we are forced to notify you that all of your positions are, as a result of this continued action by the GMB, at risk of redundancy."

It says successful action would leave the company unable to pay compensation during "difficult trading conditions" and managers would be forced to constantly cut down on working hours.

"In fact," it says, "any continued action by the GMB union will cause the business to collapse, with the inevitable loss of all your jobs."

GMB regional officer Doug Cooper said the union would be urging the company to abandon its "bully-boy tactics".

He added: "The GMB will not permit the company to treat employees as if they are fixtures and fittings. Many of our members have given long-term service and they all have as much, if not more, of a stake in its future than shareholders."

Dorlux has so far made no comment, despite several calls from the News.