Sacked workers to fight on

The Labour Court has ordered True Corp to pay compensation to nine former employees who were sacked three years ago.

The court ruled yesterday that True ended their employment unfairly in 2007.

The court ordered the company to pay them compensation required by the Labour Law.

The company will appeal the decision, an executive said.

Atsadawut Thiangthong, one of the nine former employees, said True Corp told him a restructure had resulted in 20 employees being shed on March 5, 2007.

They were among 29 staff members at different branches who were trying to set up a labour union on Feb 28 of the same year.

Only nine former workers decided to file the lawsuit with the court.

Mr Atsadawut said they will appeal against the court's ruling yesterday, saying they were seeking a court order for the company to reinstate them, not damages.

Mr Atsadawut said the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has also decided against registering the True labour union on the grounds that those seeking the registration are no longer True Corp employees.

Athueck Asvanund, a vice-chairman of True Corp, said the company will not pay compensation to the dismissed staff.

He said the company will appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court.

He said True did not sack the 20 employees because of their initiative to set up a labour union.

Their employment was terminated because they violated the company's disciplinary code, he said.