A TRIBUNAL will resume today to decide whether workers were unfairly dismissed from a North-East authority.

Middlesbrough Council dismissed 150 workers from its economic development and transportation department in 1998, as part of measures designed to save £1.7m.

John Chadwick, 56, of Stokesley, North Yorkshire, Harry Alderton, 53, of Eaglescliffe, Stockton, Chris Nestor, 54, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, and Kenneth Bland, of Guisborough, east Cleveland, were among those chosen for compulsory redundancy. With Edwin Purvis, 63, of Marton, Middlesbrough, they claim the selection method for the redundancies was unfair and inadequate.

The tribunal opened earlier this year at Thornaby, but was adjourned. It is expected to last until Thursday.