Jobs at stake as Tetrosyl terminates contract with Canute

Newgate House Tetrosyl

More than 20 jobs are at stake after Tetrosyl terminated a five-year contract with Canute distribution earlier this month.

Tetrosyl is understood to have terminated the contract with Canute Transport just five months in at 4pm on Friday 4 May, transferring the undertakings to Tetrosyl, Nuttalls Transport, Bibbys and Walkers Transport.

When a business changes owner, its employees may be protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE).

According to an affected employee, the new employers are disputing TUPE saying: “We were told by Canute that we are TUPE-d over to various companies doing the contract, but the companies deny all and don’t accept the TUPE laws and are disputing them.

“I am not employed, but not fired, made redundant but with no money and no paperwork.”

A spokesperson for Walkers said: “Following very recent notification from Canute that they believe certain of its employees have transferred to Walkers employment under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, we are currently working with our legal representatives as a matter of priority to ascertain further clarity and information.

“Once our legal obligations have been established, to the extent that there are any, we will seek to fulfil them. Until then we are unable to comment further.

"As to the contractual relationship between Tetrosyl and Canute, we are unable to comment.”

Tetrosyl, Canute, Nuttalls and Bibbys did not respond to an invitation to comment.

To find out if TUPE applies to your transfer, talk to Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice or, if you’re an employee, your trade union representative.