A COUNCIL has been accused of employing "bully boy" tactics after an employment tribunal ruling over the way it made six staff redundant.

The ruling, which could cost the authority more than £70,000 in compensation, comes after a similar ruling about the way it laid off 106 employees.

An employment tribunal has ruled that Middlesbrough Borough Council acted unfairly when it told six of its community development workers they were losing their jobs.

The trade unions representing the employees are accusing the town hall management of bullying and are demanding questions are asked of the authority's most senior officers.

The six were made redundant, along with eight other colleagues, when, in 1998, Middlesbrough council decided to cut back on its community development operation

The tribunal found the council's procedure was "fundamentally flawed''.

A joint statement issued by two trade unions and a solicitor who, between them represented the six, said: "We are delighted that these workers have been given justice. They have been waiting a long time for this and most of them have had lengthy periods of unemployment. From the outset, they knew that they were being treated unfairly. It's a shame that the council didn't listen to them at the time.''

A statement from David Murray, of Unison, and Mike Brider, of the Transport and General Workers' Union, said: "This council's treatment of staff has been a disgrace over the last three years. They've adopted a bully boy management style and think they can do whatever they want. Time after time, employment tribunals have ruled that approach to be unfair. We wonder when they will learn their lesson.''

A council spokeswoman said: "We are currently awaiting the full written judgement from the tribunal and it is not appropriate to comment.''

The council is awaiting a decision on an appeal it lodged against an earlier tribunal finding, which went against it over the sacking of 105 workers from its former economic development and transport department.

That tribunal found there had not been adequate consultation before compulsory redundancies were issued.