WORKERS sacked without consultation from a clothing factory have won a two-year battle for compensation.

Former employees of the Susie Radin factory, in Crook, County Durham, are celebrating after an employment tribunal awarded them 90 days' pay.

The London company has been ordered to pay the maximum compensation to more than 70 of the 108 workers affected, which means a total £250,000 payout.

Workers were given just three months' notice before the factory closed, in 2000.

Union officials and members were furious that there was no consultation to find ways of saving the Beechburn Industrial Estate operation.

Jackie Woodall, of the GMB union, hailed the ruling as a moral victory and hoped it would act as a warning to other employers in the region.

Regional organiser Mrs Woodall said: "It is an absolute victory, because of the way the firm handled the closure.

"It was obvious from the start that any consultation was meaningless and jobs were being shipped abroad for profit.

"Hopefully, this will act as a warning to other firms that meaningful consultation is essential when they consider redundancies.

"I am thrilled for the workers that they can get some compensation and I am sure our members will be delighted."

Kevin Curran, the GMB's regional secretary, said: "This is a demonstration of employers' failure to consult with their workers, as well as a failure to commit to the region.

"When employers fail in their statutory and moral duty to keep workers informed, our members can rest assured that the GMB will pursue all courses of action on their behalf."

Gail Johnson, the GMB representative at Sara-Lee Coultards clothing, in West Auckland, County Durham, said the four former Susie Radin staff, who now worked there, were thrilled with the news.

She said: "It has been a long time coming, but well worth the fight."

Leslie Grant, managing director of Susie Radin, was unavailable for comment last night.