THE union representing five railway workers who were made redundant has said it is "extremely disappointed" with the decision.

Yesterday it was announced that the five tradesmen would be made redundant in order to save money within the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure.

The workers had taken their case to an independent panel to appeal the decision but this was dismissed.

Steve Salter, the regional industrial organiser from Unite Union, said: "Unite is extremely disappointed with the outcome of the internal appeal procedures given that we felt we had an extremely strong case.

"I feel the remit given to the panel was too narrow with regards to what they could consider and what their final decision could be based upon. We felt that we put forward an extremely solid argument over issues such as the selection criteria being flawed and how the government's policy on redundancy had not been followed - with regards to reducing overtime payments and reducing the numbers of temporary and seasonal staff employed.

"Quite clearly even within the governments own policy document it clearly states that these areas should be addressed prior to making posts redundant.

"What did come out of the appeal hearing and was supported by the panel is the appalling way in which the figures for redundancy had been given to the employees - with no break down of the calculations which is a requirement to do under our own employment legislation."

He added that the matter would now be pursued through the employment tribunal system and said Unite would throw its "full weight behind the claims that the dismissals are unfair".

Mr Salter also said there was an "obvious lack of knowledge and expertise" within the government's human resources division and described former Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle MHK and the Community, Culture and Leisure Minister David Cretney as either ignorant or badly informed.

He continued: "Another interesting point that came out of the hearing was the parts played in this by both Minister Quayle and the now minister in charge Mr Cretney. They have either both been ignorant of what is required regarding consultation or they have both been badly informed by their relative senior managers.

"I feel that there is a bit of covering their own positions by not really allowing senior managers to discuss the potential issues of redundancy when posts were first identified as being surplus to the department.

"The excuse of being able to meet targets through natural wastage did not add up due to the fact that the demographics of the staff in these posts would have meant it could have taken up to 20 years to lose the posts through natural wastage. The staff in the skilled areas had many years to go until they would have retired so the department's arguments are pathetic.

"The politicians should have been advised of the need to consult with staff at the earliest opportunity over the loss of posts and this clearly was not done. The process of consultation should have started under Minister Quayle's time in charge and should have continued under the current minister rather than only start consultation at the start of this year.

"The review of transport started in 2009 and this would have been the ideal time to have opened discussions possibly leading to a better outcome than we have now. If talks had started the majority of staff could have been retrained to do other roles within the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure or have been redeployed to other vacant positions within other government departments.

"I would like to think that the two ministers in question have not been informed as to what is required in situations like this. If however they were told of the need to speak to staff and consult with the unions but chose to ignore that advice then they only have themselves to blame when this all comes out at an employment tribunal.

"Politicians play an important part in the day to day running of their departments - they get paid for being in charge and as such should be prepared to take the difficult decisions rather than assume everything will be ok."

Minister Cretney yesterday said the action to make the staff members redundant was "taken with the greatest reluctance and as a result of the economic times".

Also see: Five railway workers made redundant after appeals dismissed